Learning poems
 

Limericks I can't think of any limericks that wouldn't get me permabanned. Let's see: "There once was a young lad from Nantucket..." No, that won't work. http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ies/scared.gif

How about something useful from the Rubyat of Omar Kayaam:

The moving finger writes, and having writ, moves on.
Not all your piety nor wit can call it back to erase half a line,
Or all your tears wash out a single word. In other words: Forget about it!

Originally posted by Adalbertus
So, I`m looking for Limericks [...] with four or six lines Good luck with that

Originally posted by Koyaanisqatsi
Start with something easy, like this, then step up to the harder stuff. Andra moi ennepe mousa, polytropon os mala polla
planchthe, ... *yawn* (yeah, the link is the other one)

It's not the stuff I thought of.

i am myself, and what I assume, you shall assume
for every bit of me as good belongs to you

try this

By the rude bridge that arched the flood
Their banner to the breeze unfurled
There the embattled farmers stood
And fired the shot heard round the world

Cort Haus, That would do without the last line http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...es/biggrin.gif

It was only a nightmare; it was only a dream,
But it bothered me all through the night.
Ten women were fighting to make love to me,
And the ugly one kept winning the fight.

...Nipsy Russell

A German one, I found in the depth of the net:

Ein Limerickdichter aus Ensch
fand nichts, was sich reimte auf "Mensch".
So hat denn der hier
statt fünf Zeilen vier.

The word "Mensch" is famous for having no rhyme in German. Except of course for "Pensch" which is the central part of a lamp-shade (Lampenschirm).

Originally posted by Cort Haus
There once was a website called Poly
Whose posters would tend to get trolly
They'd hurl some obuse
And act all obtuse
But none could confuse like the Molly You sir, are a REAL poet http://www.discussworldissues.com/im...ons/icon14.gif http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...milies/lol.gif

Indians scattered on dawn's highway bleeding
Ghosts crowd the young child's fragile eggshell mind.

I was a bit harsh on Poetry on the last Poems thread, but I still see it as lyrics without the important bit - music.

Originally posted by Adalbertus
I was always lazy learning poems, but I just thought it is time to learn one - which is worth learning. So, I`m looking for Limericks (english, german, french) with four or six lines. In fact, they should show some eloquence and humour. Any ideas?

(P.S. I know what I'm asking for ...)
Limericks in English have five lines-

There was an Old Man with a beard,
Who said, 'It is just as I feared!
Two Owls and a Hen,
Four Larks and a Wren,
Have all built their nests in my beard!' Edward Lear

but of course many poems have four or six line stanzas but aren't as easily memorized as a good limerick.

Shakespeare's song:

Fear no more the heat o' the sun,
Nor the furious winter's rages;
Thou thy worldly task hast done,
Home art gone, and ta'en thy wages;
Golden lads and girls all must,
As chimney-sweepers, come to dust.

Fear no more the frown o' the great;
Thou art past the tyrant's stroke:
Care no more to clothe and eat;
To thee the reed is as the oak:
The sceptre, learning, physic, must
All follow this, and come to dust.

Fear no more the lightning-flash,
Nor the all-dreaded thunder-stone;
Fear not slander, censure rash;
Thou hast finished joy and moan;
All lovers young, all lovers must
Consign to thee, and come to dust.

No exorciser harm thee!
Nor no witchcraft charm thee!
Ghost unlaid forbear thee!
Nothing ill come near thee!
Quiet consummation have; is worth memorizing, as is Thomas Nashe's Song from 'Summer's Last Will And Testament':



Adieu, farewell earth's bliss,
This world uncertain is,
Fond are life's lustful joys,
Death proves them all but toys,
None from his darts can fly;
I am sick, I must die:
Lord, have mercy on us. ...

Rich men, trust not in wealth,
God cannot buy you health;
Physic himself must fade.
All things to end are made,
The plague full swift goes by;
I am sick, I must die:
Lord, have mercy on us.

Beauty is but a flower,
Which wrinkles will devour,
Brightness falls from the air, ...
Queens have died young and fair,
Dust hath closed Helen's eye.
I am sick, I must die:
Lord, have mercy on us.

Strength stoops unto the grave,
Worms feed on Hector brave,
Swords may not fight with fate,
Earth still holds ope her gate.
Come, come, the bells do cry.
I am sick, I must die: ...
Lord, have mercy on us.

Wit with his wantonness
Tasteth death's bitterness:
Hell's executioner
Hath no ears for to hear
What vain art can reply.
I am sick, I must die:
Lord, have mercy on us.

Haste therefore each degree,
To welcome destiny: ...
Heaven is our heritage,
Earth but a player's stage,
Mount we unto the sky.
I am sick, I must die:
Lord, have mercy on us.
http://www.elizabethanauthors.com/summ1.htm

Stevie Smith's 'Croft' :


Aloft,
In the loft,
Sits Croft;
He is soft.
William Wordsworth:

A slumber did my spirit seal;
I had no human fears:
She seemed a thing that could not feel
The touch of earthly years.

No motion has she now, no force;
She neither hears nor sees,
Rolled round in earth's diurnal course,
With rocks, and stones, and trees. Happy hunting...

There was an Old Man of Coblenz,
The length of whose legs was immense;
He went with one prance
From Turkey to France,
That surprising Old Man of Coblenz.

Asking for correction :

Apolyton

This is a place with many threads;
All the readers are widespread
In the world. They post
Answers or ripostes
Then flee from Ming, Chief si dread.