[lit-ideas] Re: The Poet's Laundry List
- From: Mike Geary <jejunejesuit.geary2@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 29 Dec 2014 12:09:20 -0600
Thanks for posting this, Mr. JL. Had never seen nor heard nor imagined
such. Very amusing and conducive to musing on "muse".
On Thu, Dec 11, 2014 at 6:41 AM, Redacted sender Jlsperanza@xxxxxxx for
DMARC <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> In a message dated 12/10/2014 7:48:51 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
> jejunejesuit.geary2@xxxxxxxxx writes: "I once thought [implicature:
> wrongly] that
> about the only things that can't be considered poetry are grocery lists,
> cook books and instruction manuals."
>
> To which D. Ritchie aptly applies 3 lines of a poem by
>
> "give me
> a blooming grocery list
> and money enough to buy"
>
> In his "Encyclopedia of Poetic Diction", Hopkinson has an entry,
>
> 'laundry list'
>
> He notes that the first reference to a laundry list is "possibly the list
> of ships in Homer's Iliad" -- only that of course this was a catalogue of
> ships, and not laundry list items. But the phrase, 'laundry list' (not
> 'ship') is to be understood metaphorically.
>
> Since then, poets have been proposing laundry lists, and worst, people have
> been singing them. One in ps, metaphorical again.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Speranza
>
> VERSE
>
> I'm a glum one,
> it's explainable,
> I met someone unattainable
> Life's a bore,
> the world is my oyster no more
> All the papers where I lead the news with my capers,
> now will spread the news
> Superman turns out to be flash-in-the-pan
>
> --- ITEM ONE IN LIST:
>
> I've been around the world in a plane,
>
> ITEM TWO:
>
> designed the latest IBM brain
>
> But lately I'm so downhearted,
> 'cause I can't get started with you
>
> ITEM 3:
>
> In Cincinatti or in Rangoon,
>
>
> ITEM 4:
> I simply smile and all the gals swoon
>
> Their whims I've more than just charted,
> but I can't get started with you
>
> O tell me why am I no kick to you,
> I who'd always stick to you
> Fly through thin and thick to you,
> tell me why I'm taboo
>
>
> ITEM 5:
>
> Each time I chanced to see Franklin D.,
> he always said, Hi buddy to me
>
> ITEM 6:
>
> And with queens I've a la carted,
> but I can't get started with you.
>
> ITEM 7:
>
> I've flown around the world in a plane
>
> ITEM 8:
>
> I've settled revolutions in Spain
>
> ITEM 9:
>
> The North Pole I have charted but can't get started with you
>
>
> ITEM 10: Around a golf course I'm under par
>
> ITEM 11:
> And all the movies want me to star
>
> ITEM 12:
>
> I've got a house, a showplace, but I get no place with you
>
>
> You're so supreme, lyrics I write of you
> Scheme just for a sight of you
> Dream both day and night of you,
> And what good does it do?
>
> ITEM 13: In nineteen twenty nine I sold short
>
> ITEM 14: In England I'm presented at court
> But you've got me down-hearted 'cause I can't get started with you
>
>
> ITEM 15: I do a hundred yards in ten flat
>
> ITEM 16: The Prince of Wales has copied my hat
>
> ITEM 18: With queens I've a la carted but can't get started with you
>
> ITEM 19: The leading tailors follow my styles
>
> ITEM 20: And toothpaste ads all feature my smiles
>
> ITEM 21: The Astorbilts I visit
>
> but say what is it with you?
>
>
> When we first met, how you elated me.
> Pet, you devastated me.
> Yet, now you've deflated me- 'Til you're my Waterloo
>
>
> ITEM 22
> I've sold my kisses at a bazaar
>
> ITEM 24
> And after me they've named a cigar
> But lately how I've smarted, 'cause I can't get started with you
>
> and counting:
>
>
>
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