by Robert Wilkinson
Today would have been the 117th birthday of one of America’s great poets, and was he funny!
Ogden Nash (August 19, 1902 – May 19, 1971) was extraordinarily popular when I was young due to his “light verse,” which was witty, humorous, and occasionally very incisive. He wrote for children and adults, and was on the staff of The New Yorker for many years, and generally beloved by millions. Here are just a few of the shorter poems. At the end I’ve included a link to a site with countless poems by this master of whimsical humor.
Family Court
One would be in less danger
From the wiles of a stranger
If one's own kin and kith
Were more fun to be with.
Song of the Open Road
I think that I shall never see
A billboard as lovely as a tree.
Perhaps unless the billboards fall,
I'll never see a tree at all.
Reflexions on Ice-Breaking
Candy is dandy
But liquor is quicker
The Germ
A mighty creature is the germ,
Though smaller than a pachyderm.
His customary dwelling place
Is deep within the human race.
His childish pride he often pleases
By giving people strange diseases.
Do you, my poppet, feel infirm?
You probably contain a germ.
I Didn't Go to Church Today
I didn’t go to church today,
I trust the Lord to understand.
The surf was swirling blue and white,
The children swirling on the sand.
He knows, He knows how brief my stay,
How brief this spell of summer weather,
He knows when I am said and done
We’ll have plenty of time together.
Here’s the site where I found these. There are plenty more, so by all means, have some fun perusing the wit and wisdom of Ogden Nash!
A timeline of his life and a list of his works
Thanks for giving me so many smiles when I was younger. Through you I learned that poetry could be light and fun.
© Copyright 2019 Robert Wilkinson
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