In 1901, Burgess wrote a playful parody of Emily Dickenson’s “I Never Saw a Moor.” Burgess’s poem went as follows:
In 1901, Burgess wrote a playful parody of Emily Dickenson’s “I Never Saw a Moor.” Burgess’s poem went as follows:
I never saw a Purple Cow,
I never Hope to See one.
But I can Tell you Anyhow,
I’d rather see than Be one!
Burgess was forced to recite this ditty so often that in desperation he wrote a new poem:
Burgess was forced to recite this ditty so often that in desperation he wrote a new poem:
Oh Yes, I wrote “The Purple Cow.”
I’m Sorry now I Wrote it.
But I can Tell you Anyhow,
I’ll Kill you if you Quote it.”
George Carlin: “I’m a Modern Man”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZGzmKjsAoA
Lewis Carroll wrote parodies and nonsense verse:
Lewis Carroll wrote parodies and nonsense verse:
‘Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
all mimsy were the borogroves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
When Allen Ginsberg ushered in the age of “Beat” poetry with “Howl,” people were amazed that a poem about depression and suffering could also be exuberant and exciting and filled with fresh and humorous images.
When Allen Ginsberg ushered in the age of “Beat” poetry with “Howl,” people were amazed that a poem about depression and suffering could also be exuberant and exciting and filled with fresh and humorous images.
Here is an example of these images, as he writes about:
“…angel-headed hipsters,” from “Zen New Jersey,” eating “the lamb stew of the imagination,” and being “run down by the drunken taxicabs of Absolute Reality.”
Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum
Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum
I smell the blood of an Englishman.
Be he alive or be he dead
I’ll grind his bones to make my bread.
Edward Lear wrote “learics.” The name of the genre was later changed to “limericks.”
Edward Lear wrote “learics.” The name of the genre was later changed to “limericks.”
There is a young lady whose nose,
Continually prospers and grows;
When it grew out of sight,
She exclaimed in a fright
“Oh! Farewell to the end of my nose!”
Lowell was a Harvard professor who was opposed to the Mexican War. He invented a character by the name of Birdofredum Sawin as a satiric spokesperson for his anti-war sentiments.
Lowell was a Harvard professor who was opposed to the Mexican War. He invented a character by the name of Birdofredum Sawin as a satiric spokesperson for his anti-war sentiments.
Birdofredum had lost an arm, a leg, and an eye in the war, so he planned to go into politics as a way of cashing in on his “disfigurements.” His political speeches went like this:
If, while you’re lectioneerin round, some curious chap should beg
To know my views o’ state affairs, just answer WOODEN LEG!
If they ain’t satisfied with that, and kinda pry and doubt,
And ax for somethin’ definite, just say ONE EYE PUT OUT!
In talking about his “platform” Birdofredum continues:
Then you can call me “Timbertoes”—that’s what the people likes!....
Then you can call me “Timbertoes”—that’s what the people likes!....
“Old Timbertoes,” you see, ‘s a creed it’s safe to be quite bold on,
There’s nothin in’t the other side can any ways get hold on.
Julia Moore, the “Sweet Singer of Michigan” wrote funeral poems:
Julia Moore, the “Sweet Singer of Michigan” wrote funeral poems:
One morning in April, a short time ago.
Libbie was alive and gay;
Her Savior called her, she had to go,
Ere the close of that pleasant day.
While eating dinner, this dear little child
Was choked on a piece of beef.
Doctors came, tried their skill awhile,
But none could give relief.
Mark Twain confessed to studying Julia Moore’s poetry to learn the art of writing “funny” poems.
Mark Twain confessed to studying Julia Moore’s poetry to learn the art of writing “funny” poems.
He is said to have used Moore as the model for Emmaline Grangerford, who wrote “Ode to Stephen Dowling Bots, Dec’d,” in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
Matthew Prior was a 17th-century poet who wrote epigrams:
Matthew Prior was a 17th-century poet who wrote epigrams:
Sir, I admit your general rule,
That every poet is a fool:
But you yourself may serve to show it,
That every fool is not a poet.
Theodore Seuss Geisel wrote under the names of Theo LeSieg, Rosetta Stone, and Dr. Seuss.
Theodore Seuss Geisel wrote under the names of Theo LeSieg, Rosetta Stone, and Dr. Seuss.
When Dr. Seuss was awarded an honorary doctorate at a college graduation, the entire audience stood up and recited Green Eggs and Ham.
Alliteration: Jack Webb and Johnny Carson: “Kleptomania”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjquGpmgwOo
Col. D. Steamer was the pen name of Harry Graham, an English soldier who produced a book of “Little Willie” or “Little Billie” poems.
Col. D. Steamer was the pen name of Harry Graham, an English soldier who produced a book of “Little Willie” or “Little Billie” poems.
Billy, in one of his nice, new sashes,
Fell in the fire and was burned to ashes.
Now, although the room grows chilly,
I haven’t the heart to poke poor Billy.
Chauncy Gardner, who lives in the townhouse of a wealthy man in Washington, D.C., has had virtually no contact with the outside world until the rich man dies.
Chauncy Gardner, who lives in the townhouse of a wealthy man in Washington, D.C., has had virtually no contact with the outside world until the rich man dies.
The only thing that Chauncy knows about is gardening, so when the “Old Man” dies, and Chauncy leaves the estate and enters the real world of Washington D.C. he talks about what he knows—gardening.
But the real world doesn’t realize that Chauncy is talking literally. Since he is dressed so well, and since he has excellent speech and manners, people assume that he is talking metaphorically.
They all assume that his simple literal statements have profound metaphorical significance, and so Chauncy rises in the world of Washington D.C. to become an important political figure.
In the tradition of Pygmalion, and of My Fair Lady, Chauncy uses his language to attain a high position in the D.C. aristocracy.
Good poetry usually contains much sensual imagery. Poetry is usually about the interaction between a human being and the human being’s senses of smell, taste, touch, sound, and sight.
Good poetry usually contains much sensual imagery. Poetry is usually about the interaction between a human being and the human being’s senses of smell, taste, touch, sound, and sight.
The syntax of poetry is just as structured as is the syntax of prose, but it follows different rules.
The syntax of poetry is just as structured as is the syntax of prose, but it follows different rules.
Poetry is usually structured in terms of end-rhyme, internal rhyme, scansion, alliteration, assonance, and rhythm. These surface-structure repetitions are called “schemes.”
Robert Frost writes poetry that is based on schemes.
In addition, poetry might have metaphor, paradox, enigma, symbolism, double entendre, parody, irony, satire, deadpan, or antithesis. These deep-structure meaning-based concepts are called “tropes.”
e. e. cummings writes poetry that is based on “tropes.”
Whose woods these are I think I know.
Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the wood and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep
And miles to go before I sleep.
And miles to go before I sleep.
In “love,” e. e. cummings breaks almost all of the rules not only of grammar but of poetry.
In “love,” e. e. cummings breaks almost all of the rules not only of grammar but of poetry.
He also uses Irony, Antithesis and Enigma to exploit the paradoxes and contradictions of “love.”
Note that cummings also uses slant rhyme in order to break normal poetic conventions.
love is more thicker than forget
love is more thicker than forget
more thinner than recall
more seldom than a wave is wet
more frequent than to fail
it is most mad and moonly
and less it shall unbe
than all the sea which only
is deeper than the sea
love is less always than to win
love is less always than to win
less never than alive
less bigger than the least begin
less littler than forgive
it is most sane and sunly
and more it cannot die
than all the sky which only
is higher than the sky
Jimmy Jet and His TV Set (28-29)
Jimmy Jet and His TV Set (28-29)
Smart (35)
Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout (70-71)
The Dirtiest Man in the World (96-97)
Lazy Jane (87)
Mary Maxwell’s Deadpan Prayer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPFCn3itBFE
Peek a boo. I see you.
Peek a boo. I see you.
Eensy weensy spider went up the water spout.
Along came the rain and washed the spider out.
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain.
So eensy weensy spider went up the spout again.
Head, shoulders, knees and toes. Knees and toes. Knees and toes.
Head, shoulders, knees and toes. Eyes, Ears, Mouth and Nose.
This little piggy went to market. This little piggy stayed home.
This little piggy had roast beef. This little piggy had none.
This little piggy cried wee wee wee wee. All the way home.
