Intro post: Random introductions

[primeideal]

 Hello again!  A few weeks ago I focused on ars poetica poems--this week will just be a whirlwind tour of some of the poets whose work I've enjoyed running across. Thanks to jjhunter  for suggesting this broad focus.

I recently read an anthology of limericks (The Penguin Book of Limericks, edited by E.O. Parrott), so I thought I'd quote some of my favorites from "anon," who needs no introduction.

 

There was a young fellow from Tyne
Put his head on the South-Eastern line;
But he died of ennui,
For the 5.53
Didn't come till a quarter past nine.

God's plan made a hopeful beginning
But Man spoilt his chances by sinning.
We trust that the story
Will end in great glory
But at present, the other side's winning.

As he filled up his order book pp.
He declared, 'I want higher ww.'
So he struck for more pay,
But, alas, they now say
He is sweeping out elephants' cc.

Comments

[spiralsheep]

1. Love the first one, hee!

2. There's a philosophical question about whether something exists if it's not being observed, which led to this limerick:

There was a young man who said, "God
Must find it exceedingly odd
To think that the tree
Should continue to be
When there's no one about in the quad."

Ronald Knox's reply:

"Dear Sir: Your astonishment's odd;
I am always about in the quad.
And that's why the tree
Will continue to be
Since observed by, Yours faithfully, God."

3. There was a young curate of Salisbury,
Whose behaviour was halsbury-scalsbury;
He went around Hampshire
Without any pampshire,
Until his bishop compelled him to walsbury.

Tell me if you need this decoded, heh. :-)

[primeideal]

That last one was also anthologized here, but alas, I do need a decoding. Thanks! ;)

[spiralsheep]

(Version below has slightly better scansion as I've now found the original, heh.)

There was a young curate of Salisbury,
Whose manner was halsbury-scalsbury;
He wandered round Hampshire
Without any pampshire,
Until his bishop compelled him to walsbury.

Salisbury is also known as Sarum so the second line rhyme is harum-scarum. Hampshire is also known as Hants so the fourth line rhyme is pants. In the last line Bishop has sent the curate to a place called Wareham although this is another layer of pun implying also Wareham/wear 'em.

[primeideal]

Excellent! I happened to know that residents of Salisbury were known as "Sarumites" (long story) but not this part, much appreciated. ;)

[zirconium]

*giggle*

[primeideal]

:) I like poetry that makes me happy.

[alee_grrl]

These are so much fun. I laughed out loud in delight.