w o r d s m i t h
From Bard To Verse
ISBN numbers
Paperback: 978-1-4477-1844-0
Digital: 978-1-4477-2695-1
Darren Bane adds insult to infamy with this, his little poem book, a comical compilation of ridiculous rhymes, ludicrously laughable lyrics and pitiful parodies.
This asinine anthology includes a tender, touching tribute to actress Catherine Zeta Jones, verses which feature fairly credible rhymes for the words 'vasectomy', 'metatarsal' and 'follicles', others which push the boundaries of 'poetic licence' and, of course, the local literary legend - if only in the mind of the author - that is Shiny Table.
More than 30 years worth of witty/witless wordplay has been brought together in the rib-tickling tome that is From Bard To Verse.
The story behind the story
In 1991 I was recruited by the Bristol Evening Post, a regional daily newspaper, to be part of a two-man team in its ‘district office’ in Weston-super-Mare.
My colleague, and ‘partner in crime’ was Andrew White. While he was, and forever will be, 20 years my senior chronologically, we seemed to share a similar mental age and defiant refusal to grow up.
He was blessed with a natural gift in witty wordsmithery and was a huge influence on me, which meant that when I discovered he had written many amusing verses, I was inspired to have a go myself.
I had a made a few token efforts at poetry prior to this but it wasn’t until I started working with Whitey that I felt empowered to unleash my full poetic prowess.
This book includes some of my first verses, penned when I was about 16-years-old. But if you can endure these earlier efforts, then you’ll hopefully enjoy what follows.
Some of the pieces in this anthology are accompanied by some brief contextual notes, to help the reader fully recognise and appreciate their literary worth.
Part Two of this book – ‘Personals’ – were written specifically to mark birthdays or weddings, and feature many ‘in jokes’. However, I’ve included some of them here because I remain quite proud of their poetic and humorous (I use the term advisedly) content. Besides, I reasoned that since I am self-publishing this anthology, then I can afford myself a little ‘self-indulgence’, if you will.
In addition to being inspired by my workmate, Whitey, I should also acknowledge the American comedian Steve Martin. In his film, The Man With Two Brains, his character, Dr Hfuhruhurr, and Dolores (played by Kathleen Turner) discuss John Lillison, supposedly England’s greatest one-armed poet, whose notable works include In Dillman’s Grove and Pointy Birds, which Dr Hfuhruhurr recites. Martin revisits Pointy Birds in his later film LA Story. I was amused by the style of this verse and unashamedly applied it to many of my own shorter pieces.
I have not been as prolific with my poetry as I would like to have been because, unlike Whitey, or other such amusing scribes as Pam Ayres and Brian Bilston, the comic writing doesn’t flow naturally from me, it is something I have to work at. But having had some fairly positive feedback from those I’ve shared some of works with, and having even raised a few smiles,
I’ve been encouraged and inclined to commit them to print.
Poetry and song lyrics are similar forms of prose, and with one of my first-ever albums being one of comedy parodies by the great British band The Barron Knights, I also started writing comical songs, some wholly original and some – in the style of the Knights – parodies of well-known numbers.
Since I hadn’t written enough poetry to fill a sufficient number of pages in this anthology – despite me waiting decades to publish - I decided to throw in some of my silly songs, too, in Part Three.
That concludes the mitigation for the defence, your honour.
Reviews & Feedback
Coming soon, hopefully!
From Bard to Verse is one of those books that manages to be both utterly ridiculous and surprisingly clever at the same time. Darren Bane has pulled together over three decades of his quirky poetic creations, and the result is a collection that feels like part stand-up comedy, part parody, and part affectionate tribute to the craft of rhyme itself.
The range of styles and subjects is what really makes this book shine. In one section, you find yourself chuckling at a hilariously exaggerated ode to Catherine Zeta-Jones, while in another you’re raising your eyebrows at the sheer boldness of rhyming words like vasectomy or follicles. There are parodies of familiar forms, cheeky rewrites of everyday observations, and the wonderfully odd local legend of “Shiny Table,” which has no right to be as funny and memorable as it is.
What makes Darren’s writing so enjoyable is the balance between silliness and skill. While the author pokes fun at his own “pathetic” or “asinine” poetry, there’s an undeniable craft in the rhythm, wordplay, and comedic timing. It’s easy to write nonsense; it’s far harder to write nonsense that consistently lands with a laugh. Darren manages both the quick punchline and the slow-burn chuckle, making the book something you can either binge-read or dip into whenever you need a smile.
The tone is self-aware, self-deprecating, and joyfully irreverent, and that’s what sets it apart. You get the sense that the author is inviting you in on the joke, winking from behind the page. The collection doesn’t try to be highbrow or polished to perfection, it celebrates imperfection, pokes fun at itself, and somehow becomes all the more charming because of it.
For readers who love puns, parodies, lighthearted humour, and playful nonsense, this book is a gem. It isn’t about deep themes or heavy emotions, it’s about the pure joy of words, twisted into shapes they were probably never meant to take, and somehow working beautifully anyway.
From Bard to Verse is a reminder that not all poetry has to be serious to be memorable. Sometimes, the best verse is the kind that makes you laugh out loud and then read it aloud to the person next to you. A truly delightful and laugh-filled anthology that deserves more eyes on it.
Harper, Goodreads, 19 August 2025
