Ladies and gentlemen, tonight for your entertainment Benedicte Delachanal, Aletha Kuschan and moi would like to introduce you to the beginning of something that we think is very special. We three bloggers have been conspiring behind blog walls to make Pompadour (my Chinese Silky chicken) and Blanca (Aletha’ s hamster) famous.
Much has been written previously about these two beasties, but today we are posting The Ballade of Pompadour and Blanca as way of an introduction to their delicate relationship. The collaboration goes something like this: Gabrielle (writer); Benedicte (illustrator); Aletha (editor, writer, illustrator). These roles are somewhat fluid and as we present stuff we will reveal who did what.
Keep the tune of The Beverly Hillbillies in mind when you read my poem.
Illustration by Benedicte Delachanal (2009)
The Ballade of Pompadour and Blanca
Let me tell you about a chicken, her name is Pompadour
she is generously proportioned and is very much adored
for her pizzaz, oomph and rockstar chic
sumptuous plumage
grey and white, pompom on top
ubercool and suave.
She’s a Chinese Silkie chicken, with a lovely French name,
cooping well in Australia, with four sisters and her fame
from success as a superb singer on
Aussie’s Rock Chick
head full of feathers, fanciful ideas
and up to assorted tricks.
One day Pompi traveled, across the seas so far
to the United States of America, just because she was a star
befriending Blanca the hamster
hairstylist extraordinaire
over sized rat, petite style
bonding over coffee liqueur.
And now it must be noted, Blanca’s challenged bouffantly
her hamster hair is fine and flat, colour of insipid tea
tis true this bouffant-challenged rodent
is not much to observe
but heart of gold, manicured paws
make up for eau-de-hamster.
Blanca is sweet-hearted, with no sinister intent
she sees the best in all around, ignoring petty vents,
unlike the arrogant Pompadour
who insists things go her way
she listens most, a gracious host
ensuring a good day.
You may find these two an oddly matched pair of friends indeed
but isn’t it that the way, opposites are drawn by need
for something that the other gives
or complementary nature
and this is true, without a doubt
for Pompadour and Blanca.
The End
Gabe Feathers McGee 
Bravo! I know that three of you will make something absolutely wonderful and that is a fantastic start, full of character and wit.
Thanks Squires (we may send you a sneak preview of the first story).
ha ha!!
i think you might have the makings of a great children’s book there! my girls are already fixated on chickens (they see them at the market every saturday and make appropriate chook noises that I taught them…)
Thanks screamish – Benedicte’s chicken pictures are unique, as as the Silkies – but a chicken is a chicken and children’s books and chickens do go together.
or will they be naughty chickens, for adults??
get your mind out of the gutter dear screamish!
you have to sing it, Gabrielle,
thanks for all the fun and pleasure in doing this.
I will sing it at some stage, when I work out how to do a recording plus need a banjo player (are you reading this Chucky!). Thank you Ben.
Bwahahahaha! That was absolutely adorable. I was singing it in my mind as I read. 🙂
So glad you liked it Thomma Lyn. If we do make it a song, it will need a bit of a rework (maybe a bridge) but the tune is just to get everyone in the mood – ha,ha.
This could be a really big success. The illustrations are wonderful. The verse is catchy and engaging. Brilliant work!
Thank you so much Selma. We started out doing it just for fun but now may publish or self publish the stories (which are not in verse). The first one is about Pompadour at the beauty salon. She’s a very naughty chicken!
fantastic. love it. my little orange boy kitten Piph wants to be in the story. but he would probably not behave himself with a hamster and a chicken. one of these days i’ll post his picture
Your little kitten is adorable tipota but you are right, it is best to separate chickens and pets of the dog and cat persuasion.
Lovely and loveable. Congratulations Aletha, Benedicte and Gabrielle.
Aletha, Benedicte and Gabrielle say thankyou Brad.
The New York Times calls The Ballade of Pompadour and Blanca “a brilliant frolic.”
The London Telegraph says “it will tickle your funny bone.”
Le Parisien dit que L’Histoire de Pompadour et Blanca est “le non-plus ultra des histoires rigoles.”
The Sydney Morning Herald said that not since Refus has poetry and drawing conveyed such life, humor and joy.
The Charlotte Observer called The Ballade of Pompadour and Blanca “the most intelligent and sophisticated comedic poetry seen in a decade.”
And Joey aged 10 says The Ballade of Pompadour and Blanca is “cool.”
Discover for yourself. The Ballade of Pompadour and Blanca — a poetical delight you don’t want to miss.
Ha,ha,ha,ha – I loved what you said on Benedicte’s blog and now for the same treatment here. Thank you very much Aletha, from Gabe, Ben and Aletha.
Somebody’s got to work on the dust jacket … that’s me!
Sounds good to me! I’m working on a design for the soft, fluffy Pompi and Blanca toys.
Great! And the little plastic look-alikes can go into the kids’ happy meals. How many millions are we making yet?
Millions of dollars, but it’s Monopoly money. Never mind, it’s mainly for the fun of it. Next year is the year of getting serious about Pompi and Blanca re publishing.