Saturday, December 22, 2007

The Virgin of Waikiki by Don Blanding

Here is a review of the poem/book "The Virgin of Waikiki" - A Torrid Tragedy of the Tropics by Don Blanding.


Don Blanding is well known for his tropical poetry and this little volume is a good example of his humorous verse writing abilities.

A nearing 40's spinster is the 'hot' topic of this steamy tropical ballad.

From the DJ:
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Every Author has his flippant moments, and it was such a mood that the Virgin of Waikiki was created. As the author explains "A tragedy as Poignant as Virgin Annie's could only be treated frivolously, thus sparing the heart strings of the reader".

Those who seek may find a Moral in this tale - - We say "may".
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Quite a fun read until the "tragedy" part at the end. Can't say any more without spoiling it.



The forward by H.M.S. (Henry M. Snyder) says:

"At a recent dinner of the Wampus Club in Los Angeles, the author, Don Blanding of Honolulu was called upon to contribute to the entertainment. In responding he read his original poem, The Virgin of Waikiki.

It was felt that a number of appreciative souls who were not present at the reading of the poem were deserving of the pleasure which this rare and piquant piece affords to Epicurean literary tastes. For the benefit of this small circle of the cognoscenti an edition was privately printed "upon the altar of fellowship." This edition was quickly exhausted as was also a second printing. The present edition with illustrations by A. B. Butler, Jr. is the publisher's response to what seems to be a steadily growing demand for further copies.

What Lady Lou did for Alaska; what Kipling's Mandalay did for India, perhaps, indeed, this rollicking epic ballad of Virgin Annie may do for Hawaii."


In the back of the 1933, Henry M. Snyder edition there is a yellow envelope pasted in.

It has printed on it, "For sundry reasons the astonishing consummation of the ballad must be withheld, temporarily only -we hope- from further enjoyment of the reader." and two drawings of little angels (one obviously Hawaiian) with ukuleles.

It is my guess that the envelope was pasted in because the printery, Country Life Press, Garden City New York, discovered too late the omission of the copy and they had the unused envelopes on hand. - The DJ appears to be of the same material as the envelopes. I wonder if they had both bits of stock on the shelf and were glad to get rid of them. (8-P

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