Inspired Poetry

[LLapp]

Kb83, a little book full of original limericks (and other poem forms) that are each inspired by a quote from someone or somewhere, from antiquity to today's headlines, might not be a bad idea, even in the shrinking world of book-publishing. I'm thinking something pocket-size that might display nicely in the impulse-purchase area of the bookstore because it would be so fun to peruse. Hmm, now I'm wondering who would be the perfect illustrator....

[kb83]

Here’s one with several poetic contributions, and I just added one.

"It is a sad fact about our culture that a poet can earn much more money writing or talking about his art than he can by practicing it."
— Wystan Hugh Auden

Barnabas
March 17, 2012, 6:16 pm
There once was a poet named Hugh In dollars he earned so few But when he wrote or he spoke The poverty dam broke And like weeds his money just grew
montyb
April 3, 2012, 6:19 pm
Nice, Barnabas! I love a good limerick. Heck, I even like bad ones.
abra
September 21, 2013, 2:40 pm
I'm always amazed that there was a time when people made money writing poetry. Nowadays, it would have to be set to a tune. Or are there bread winning poets out there still?
JD_1947
December 4, 2014, 5:58 am
There once was a poet but you wouldn't know it, He wrote and spoke trying to show it, Though the dollars came in, He just couldn't win, No one read the lines that he writ . . .
hrossa
November 21, 2020, 1:24 pm
Lol, enjoyed the poems! Maya Angelou did quite well financially
marnita
November 24, 2020, 8:59 pm
You can probably make good money writing advertising jingles.
gracefulghost
December 4, 2021, 10:13 am
I think if my name were Wystan that I might consider just using my initials, too
jbb33054
January 9, 2022, 9:53 pm
85
RedEnoch
December 27, 2022, 4:27 pm
And even more fixing toilets.

And I (KB83) added on 3/9/2025:

A poet named W. H. Auden
Complained of the path he had trodden,
"For my verse they won't pay,
But they want me to say,
How it causes our culture to broaden."

[LLapp]

Mayo / may owe -- nice.

[kb83]

More self-promotion

"Worry affects the circulation, the heart, the glands, the whole nervous system. I have never known a man who died from overwork, but many who died from doubt."
— Charles H. Mayo

kb83
September 4, 2024, 4:35 pm
A Surgeon named Charlie H. Mayo,
Said don't worry about what you may owe,
For longevity's sake
Give your organs a break,
And you can rely on my say-so.

[kb83]

Another self-promotion:

"Three o'clock is always too late or too early for anything you want to do. "
— Jean-Paul Sartre

Kb83 on 2/20/25:

A philosopher usually abstruse,
Had a maxim not hard to deduce
Three o'clock's clearly
Too late or too early
To undertake something of use.

[hrossa]

Thanks kb83 I don't remember this, but I do enjoy Pope quotes.

[kb83]

In addition to Hrossa's comment, I excerpted the first comment, because it shows the evolution of the wording from "never" to "ne'er". It was this
evolution that inspired Hrossa's couplet. I am tickled by Hrossa's ending, "... it solve" ! Well done!

"True wit is nature to advantage dressed, what oft was thought, but ne'er so well expressed. "
— Alexander Pope

sonofcarc
March 14, 2012, 8:07 pm
"Never" is contracted to "ne'er" in the original.

Hrossa
October 8, 2022, 11:12 am
Ne'er the solution for this did evolve, 'til "Pope" evoked thought that "ne'er" might it solve.

[hrossa]

It works

[kb83]

Yes, I really stretched for that one!

[hrossa]

Self-promotion or not, these are some fun rhymes. "Did often ease"!

[kb83]

Still more self-promotion

"These impossible women! How they do get around us! The poet was right: Can't live with them, or without them."
— Aristophanes

kb83
Jan. 23, 2025, 7 p.m.

A satirist named Aristophanes
Took note of life's many cacophanies.
With wicked insight he
Poked fun at the mighty,
Anxiety his wit did often ease.

[kb83]

More self-promotion:


"The most delightful pleasures cloy without variety. "
— Publilius Syrus

kb83
January 13, 2025, 2:07 pm

A man named Publilius Syrus,
Gave cogent advice meant to steer us,
Those things we enjoy,
Will soon come to cloy,
If we gather them too often near us.

[LLapp]

"What is a thousand years? Time is short for one who thinks, endless for one who yearns." — Henri Alban-Fournier

kb83
September 13, 2023, 7:18 pm
What is a thousand years?
On you the question turns.
Time is short for one who thinks,
Endless for one who yearns.

[Eureka]

"Dwell not upon thy weariness, thy strength shall be according to the measure of thy desire." — Arab Proverb


skeeter
February 22, 2015, 2:59 am
Oh, me, oh, my, when "the" is "thy,"
Methinketh me is going to cry.

[kb83]

Eureka, your reaction makes me happy! And I had forgotten about this one!