Saturday, August 31, 2019

Grounded

High-Flyer?
There was a young fellow named "Pound,"
Who didn't completely astound,
When he uttered "Whatever,"
To poetic endeavor,
That didn't quite get off the ground.

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Friday, August 30, 2019

Finally, Ilhan Omar Answers Our Questions!

Question 1: Did you marry your own brother?
Answer 1: Some people did something.


Question 2: Did you live with your current husband before marriage?
Answer 2: Some people did something.


Question 3: Did you recently start an affair with a married man?
Answer 3: Some people did something.


Question 4: Did you recently file for divorce?
Answer 4: Some people did something.


Thank you, Ms. Ilhan Omar, for your openness and transparency.

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Thursday, August 29, 2019

Ilhan Omar: "Some people did something."

Speaking of Transgressive: News Flash on Ilhan Omar:

Jim Spencer and Patrick Condon, staff writers for the Minneapolis newspaper the Star Tribune (August 28, 2019), tell us that Representative Ilhan Omar rejects accusations that she is having an affair. She specifically denies that she is separated or dating outside her marriage, and she refuses to speak any further about her family arrangements. Her denials are not entirely persuasive.

I guess she'd prefer that we just say, "Some people did something," and leave it at that.

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

The Limerick According to Wikipedia: Essentially Transgressive

According to the ever omniscient Wikipedia:

"The form [of the limerick] appeared in England in the early years of the 18th century.[4] It was popularized by Edward Lear in the 19th century,[5] although he did not use the term. Gershon Legman, who compiled the largest and most scholarly anthology, held that the true limerick as a folk form is always obscene, and cites similar opinions by Arnold Bennett and George Bernard Shaw,[6] describing the clean limerick as a 'periodic fad and object of magazine contests, rarely rising above mediocrity.' From a folkloric point of view, the form is essentially transgressive; violation of taboo is part of its function."
There's a short quote within this block quote, as you can see, but who's being cited? Possibly Shaw, but probably Legman?
Ft. 4 See footnote 4 on Wikipedia.
Ft. 5 Brandreth, page 108.
Ft. 6 Legman 1988, pp. x-xi.
Footnotes 5 and 6 are also found in Wikipedia, as noted above.
Gyles Brandreth (1986). Everyman's Word Games.
Gershon Legman (1988). The Limerick, New York: Random House.

The two books given above seem to be the important ones for this blog entry. I'd be interested to know if any of my limericks are transgressive. Actually, I know several are. But are those that are not transgressive, then, also not limericks? That depends on what "transgressive" means.

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Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Why Limericks?

Here's Why Limericks

The limerick genre of poetry is often used to offer an exaggerated depiction of some individual, so exaggerated that we can consider the individual a fictive individual, though there will be points of contact between the fictive individual in the limerick and the real individual outside the limerick.

No one should therefore take the fictive "Pound" of these limericks as the real "Pound" outside the limericks. They share some points, of course. The fictive "Pound" is described as a fascist and a traitor, and these two points are shared with the real "Pound." But the fictive "Pound" denounced as an "S.O.B. f**ker" in one of the limericks might bear no similarity to the real "Pound" outside that limerick.

Or as Edward Lear would say, "Such such is laugh."

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Monday, August 26, 2019

Lattice Work

Spherical Miracle!
There once was a ninny named Pound,
Who was  made out of bricklets so round
That he thought each all-spherical
Were somewhat a miracle,
Each stuck to each other all 'round.

Such such is laugh . . .

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Sunday, August 25, 2019

Limerick Greetings

Hello! Hello!
There once was a fellow named "Pound,"
Whose health was uncommonly sound.
But he stumbled pell-mell
Down a hole straight to hell!
One would hope such a trip were a-round.

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Saturday, August 24, 2019

Limerick: Do it!

Strange Imperative!

There once was a poet called "Pound,"
Whose name had imperative sound.
You doubtless did feel it,
Though churn-try conceal it,
That butter-sweet substance unbound!

Not even I know what this limerick is referring to . . .

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Friday, August 23, 2019

Limerick Vow

Honor Bound?

There once was a poet named "Pound,"
But whether that meant on the ground,
Or of weight or of money,
I can't tell you, honey,
For this tongue-twisting knot has me bound!

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Thursday, August 22, 2019

A Finished S.O.B.?

This one is slightly altered from the previous one:

The S.O.B. Pound

There once was a poet named "Pound,"
Who a tad too much brutal was found.
He called himself fascist,
And he was the nastiest
Little S.O.B. f**ker around.

That ought to resolve the "brutal" judgement, no?

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Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Limerick S.O.B. goes again

This is slightly altered from yesterday's aversion:

The S.O.B. Pound

There once was a poet named "Pound,"
Who exceedingly brutal was found.
He called himself fascist,
And he was the nastiest
Little S.O.B. f**ker around.

Perhaps too much on the "brutal" judgement?

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Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Limerick S.O.B.

The S.O.B. Pound

Once lived there a poet named "Pound,"
Who exceedingly brutal was found.
He called himself fascist,
And he was the nastiest
Little S.O.B. f**ker around.

He reveled in it!

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Monday, August 19, 2019

Wrong Error Limerick

Surnaming

There once was a fellow named Pound
Who hated his surnaming sound.
"Pound of what?" he would query.
"Pound of naught," he'd then very
Quick teach them such nonsense to ground.

A pound of nothing's a lot to waste.

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Sunday, August 18, 2019

But the sun also sets

The Sun Also Rises
I once heard old Hemingway ponder
If his job closed him out from up yonder,
But I figure if Pound
Can rise up from the ground,
So can Papa's sun rise up to wander.

Yes, I know I reworked a poem from down below, but so what? Moreover, the changes come largely due to misheard lyrics, i.e., creative misunderstanding!

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Saturday, August 17, 2019

Whose site are you on?

Pound Unbound

There once was a poet named "Pound,"
Who ought better have been called "Hell-Bound,"
For he came from up over
And was surely no rover,
But straight went to hell-work as God's hound!

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Friday, August 16, 2019

Everyone has some talent . . .

Nuthin' But a Hound-Dog!
They treated poor Pound like a hound
When they tossed him deep into that pound!
Barking mad was he labeled,
But he's just differently abled,
And can fetch any stick thrown around!

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Thursday, August 15, 2019

Pound for Pound Underground Limerick

Resurrection
I once heard a heavyweight ponder
If his job closed him out from up yonder,
But I figure if Pound
Can rise up from the ground,
Then that boxer can rise with ease fonder!

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Wednesday, August 14, 2019

Another Great Limerick!

The Bounder!
There once was a madman called "Pound,"
Or so seemed with officials around,
But when they were out,
Was his madness in doubt,
For swift was it gone with a bound!

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Tuesday, August 13, 2019

No Limerick to Tickle Your Fancy?

I don't want to constantly 'pound' on Ezra, so here's a non-Ezra-pounding limerick:
Deadwood Lime
I once had a wood rick or two,
Till a big log fell onto my shoe,
While my foot was still in it,
Such a foot-pound ill bent it,
And left me a lime rick to do!

Inspired by Puns that Tickle Only the Eye . . .

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Monday, August 12, 2019

Another Limerick

Round Rime
There once was a man name of "Pound,"
Whose head was entirely round.
You wanted to smash it,
And thresh it and thrash it,
Until it was bumpy all 'round.

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Sunday, August 11, 2019

Limerick, Too

Pound this Proud One

There once was a fellow named "Pound,"
Who preferred that imperial sound,
For a sixteen-ounce surname
Makes four-fifty-gram sure fame,
If it's big as all that, I have found.

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Saturday, August 10, 2019

Limerick Today!

Because everybody loves a limerick:

Misdiagnosis?
There once was a fellow named "Pound,"
Whose name boomed Imperial sound,
But as Modernist poet,
Loath was he to show it,
For his mind mental unsound was found.

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Friday, August 09, 2019

Take a Pounding: Take 7

A Parody of Ezra Pound's Parody of the Ancient Anglo-Saxon Poem, "Cuckoo Song":
Pound the Whinger!

Whinger is a-coming in;
Ezra sings, "Cod-damn!"
Cats do drop and dogs do plop
By heaven's hellish hound,
And Ezra sings, "Cod-damn!"

Skittish buss or sloppy buss,
They shiver quick his timber!
But limber sounds like limper, suss,
And Ezra whines, "Remember?"

"Cod-damn, cod-damn!"
Belts out Pound,
To counter whinger's hound.

Sing cod-damn, Pound!
Sing cod-damn, Pound!
Sing cod-damn, Pound!
Cod-damn!
And Zippy the Pinhead asks, "Are we effing there yet?"

And I say, "I think so."

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Thursday, August 08, 2019

Pounding Pound: Take 6

A Growing Parody of Ezra Pound's Parody of the Ancient Anglo-Saxon Poem, "Cuckoo Song":
Pound the Whinger!

Whinger is a-coming in;
Ezra sings, "Cod-damn!"
Cats do drop and dogs do plop
By heaven's hellish hound,
And Ezra sings, "Cod-damn!"

Skittish buss or sloppy buss,
They shiver quick his timber!
But limber sounds like limper, suss,
And Ezra whines, "Remember?"

"Cod-damn, cod-damn!"
Belts out Pound, "Cod-damn!"
To counter whinger's hound.

Sing cod-damn, Pound!
Sing cod-damn, Pound!
Sing cod-damn, Pound!
Cod-damn!
And Zippy the Original Pinhead asks, "Are we there yet?"

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Wednesday, August 07, 2019

Pound vs. Pound: Take 5

A Parody of Ezra Pound's Parody of the Ancient Anglo-Saxon Poem, "Cuckoo Song":
Pound the Whinger!

Whinger is a-coming in;
Ezra sings, "Cod-damn!"
Cats do drop and dogs do plop
By heaven's hellish ram,
And Ezra sings, "Cod-damn!"

Skittish buss or sloppy buss,
They shiver quick his timber!
But limber sounds like limper, suss,
And Ezra whines, "Remember?"

"Cod-damn, cod-damn!"
Belts out Pound, "Cod-damn!"
To counter whinger's ram.

Sing cod-damn, Pound!
Sing cod-damn, Pound!
Sing cod-damn, Pound!
Cod-damn!
And Zippy the Pinhead asks, "Are we there yet?"

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Tuesday, August 06, 2019

Pound for Pound: Take 4

A Parody of Ezra Pound's Parody of the Ancient Anglo-Saxon Poem, "Cuckoo Song":
Pound the Whinger!

Winter is a-coming in;
Ezra sings, "Cod-damn!"
Cats do drop and dogs do plop
By heaven's hellish ram,
And Ezra sings, "Cod-damn!"

Skittish buss or sloppy buss,
They shiver quick his timber!
But limber sounds like limper, suss,
And Ezra whines, "Remember?"

"Cod-damn, cod-damn!"
Belts out Pound, "Cod-damn!"
To counter winter's ram.

Sing cod-damn, Pound!
Sing cod-damn!
Sing cod-damn, Pound!
Sing cod-damn!
And Zippy the Pinhead asks, "Are we there yet?"

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Monday, August 05, 2019

Pound's Whine-ter: Take 3

A parody of Ezra Pound's Parody of the Ancient Anglo-Saxon poem, "Cuckoo Song":
Pound's Whine-ter

Winter is a-coming in;
Ezra sings, "Cod-damn!"
Cats do drop and dogs do plop
By heaven's hellish ram,
And Ezra sings, "Cod-damn!"

Skittish buss or sloppy buss,
They shiver quick his timber!
But limber sounds like limper, suss,
And Ezra whines, "Remember?"

"Cod-damn, cod-damn!"
Belts out Pound, "Cod-damn!"
To counter winter's ram.

Sing cod-damn, damn! Sing cod-damn!
Sing cod-damn! Sing cod-damn, damn!
Still needs work?

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Sunday, August 04, 2019

Pound's Whine-ter

A parody of Pound's parody of the Anglo-Saxon poem, "Cuckoo Song":
Pound's Whine-ter

Winter is a-coming in;
Ezra sings, "Cod-damn!"
Cats drop and dogs plop
By heaven's hellish ram.
Ezra sings, "Cod-damn!"

Skittish buss or sloppy buss,
They shiver quick his timber;
But limper sounds like limber.
Ezra whines, "Remember!"

"Cod-damn, cod-damn,"
Pound belts out, "Cod-damn!"
Against cold winter's bam.

Sing cod-damn, damn, sing cod-damn.
Sing cod-damn, sing cod-damn, damn!
Still needs work . . .

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Saturday, August 03, 2019

Stupid Song, Cheaper by the Pound

Cold Cat-and-Dog Rain

Winter is a-coming in;
Ezra sings "Cod-damn!"
Cats drop and dogs plop
By heaven's hellish lamb!
Ezra sings "Cod-damn!"

(More under dashed line.)

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Friday, August 02, 2019

Sport?

According to some dictionary that I located online, the word "sport" used to mean an amorous dalliance of lovemaking. . . but that meaning is an obsolete one now.

Just as well. I never was very athletic, anyway.

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Thursday, August 01, 2019

A Friend is Gone . . .

My friend Kent Davy died of cancer this week on the 29th of July, just 8 minutes past midnight. He was only 69, too young for a man to die these days.

Rest in peace, Kent. As I once quipped, you were my best friend in this Seoul world . . .

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