Section: «Poems»
Verse (ancient Greek ὁ στίχος — row, structure), a term in versification used in several meanings:
artistic speech organized by division into rhythmically commensurate segments; poetry in the narrow sense; in particular, it implies the properties of versification of a particular tradition ("antique verse", "Akhmatova's verse", etc.);
a line of poetic text organized according to a certain rhythmic pattern ("My uncle of the most honest rules").
What's The Use?
Sure, deck your limbs in pants,Yours are the limbs, my sweeting.You look divine as you advance . . .Have you seen yourself retreating?
© Ogden Nash
The Rhinoceros
The rhino is a homely beast,For human eyes he's not a feast.Farwell, farewell, you old rhinoceros,I'll stare at something less prepoceros.
© Ogden Nash
You Can Be A Republican, I'M A Genocrat
Oh, "rorty" was a mid-Victorian wordWhich meant "fine, splendid, jolly,"And often to me it has reoccurredIn moments melancholy.For instance..
© Ogden Nash
The Abominable Snowman
I've never seen an abominable snowman,I'm hoping not to see one,I'm also hoping, if I do,That it will be a wee one.
© Ogden Nash
Song To Be Sung By The Father Of Infant Female Children
My heart leaps up when I beholdA rainbow in the sky;Contrariwise, my blood runs coldWhen little boys go by.For little boys as little boys,No special..
© Ogden Nash
Goody For Our Side And Your Side Too
Foreigners are people somewhere else,Natives are people at home;If the place you’re atIs your habitat,You’re a foreigner, say in Rome.But the scales..
© Ogden Nash
To A Small Boy Standing On My Shoes While I Am Wearing Them
Let's straighten this out, my little man,And reach an agreement if we can.I entered your door as an honored guest.My shoes are shined and my trousers..
© Ogden Nash
The Wasp
The wasp and all his numerous familyI look upon as a major calamity.He throws open his nest with prodigality,But I distrust his waspitality.
© Ogden Nash
Grandpa Is Ashamed
A child need not be very cleverTo learn that "Later, dear" means "Never."
© Ogden Nash
The Cuckoo
Cuckoos lead Bohemian lives,They fail as husbands and as wives,Therefore they cynically disparageEverybody else's marriage.
© Ogden Nash
The Chipmunk
My friends all know that I am shy,But the chipmunk is twice and shy and I.He moves with flickering indecisionLike stripes across the television.He's..
© Ogden Nash
The Porcupine
Any hound a porcupine nudgesCan't be blamed for harboring grudges.I know one hound that laughed all winterAt a porcupine that sat on a splinter.
© Ogden Nash
So Does Everybody Else, Only Not So Much
O all ye exorcizers come and exorcize now, and ye clergymen draw nigh and clerge, For I wish to be purged of an urge. It is an irksome urge..
© Ogden Nash
The Parent
Children aren't happy with nothing to ignore,And that's what parents were created for.
© Ogden Nash
The Purist
I give you now Professor Twist,A conscientious scientist,Trustees exclaimed, "He never bungles!"And sent him off to distant jungles.Camped on a..
© Ogden Nash
The Romantic Age
This one is entering her teens,Ripe for sentimental scenes,Has picked a gangling unripe male,Sees herself in bridal veil,Presses lips and tosses..
© Ogden Nash
Oh To Be Odd!
HypochondriacsSpend the winter at the bottom of Florida and the summer on top ofthe Adirondriacs.You go to Paris and live on champagne wine and..
© Ogden Nash
The Termite
Some primal termite knocked on woodAnd tasted it, and found it good!And that is why your Cousin MayFell through the parlor floor today.
© Ogden Nash
The Guppy
Whales have calves,Cats have kittens,Bears have cubs,Bats have bittens,Swans have cygnets,Seals have puppies,But guppies just have little guppies.
© Ogden Nash
The Terrible People
People who have what they want are very fond of telling people who haven't what they want that they really don't want it,And I wish I could afford to..
© Ogden Nash
The Germ
A mighty creature is the germ,Though smaller than the pachyderm.His customary dwelling placeIs deep within the human race.His childish pride he often..
© Ogden Nash
No Doctor's Today, Thank You
They tell me that euphoria is the feeling of feeling wonderful,well, today I feel euphorian,Today I have the agility of a Greek god and the..
© Ogden Nash
Song Of The Open Road
I think that I shall never seeA billboard lovely as a treeIndeed, unless the billboards fallI'll never see a tree at all.
© Ogden Nash