Michael Weingrad's EUGENE NADELMAN: A TALE OF THE 1980s IN VERSE

There ought to be so many books like this, 

As writ in verse, in meter and in rhyme, 

Yet telling modern tales, or modern-ish --

This one's nostalgic for a place and time, 

For Philly in the early Reagan years. 

Which years are now as far behind us as

Was World War II and all its hopes and fears

From its young hero's life and times. Such has

Been 'mongst my thoughts while reading this, a tale

Of 1981 and thereabouts.

Our Wonder Years are come at last. Avail

Yourself of Eugene Nadelman -- no doubts! --

As soon as e'er you can, for to enjoy

This charming story of this charming boy.

To Pushkin and to Petrarch Weingrad pays

His tribute here, while I obey the form

Of Shakespeare. I am well set in my ways

As readers of this blog well know -- with warm

Regard do I invite you, please to click

The link that's to the right, if you have yet

To buy my own experiment in slick

And sonnetized narrations. He has set

The tale of Onegin in junior high,

At summer camp, bars mitzvah, and, the most

Important, in a basement dungeon I

Could only envy, where, with his host

Eugene fights monsters, swings his weapon and

Loots wizards' towers scattered through the land. 

For yes, some action only here unfolds

Before the teenaged eyes of teenaged minds

In D&D! But lo!  This here game holds

Unguessed-at dangers, as our hero finds

When Abigail, his lady-love, comes down

To watch a bit, and has a girl's effect

On boyish hearts, which ever seek renown

Before a girl's attention. What will wreck?

A budding love affair? A friendly game?

Companionship from childhood? You must read

The book to learn the nature of the shame

And of the glories waiting for Eugene

In this short work. The little time you'll spend

In doing so rewards well in the end.