Notable Nobs Not Unpleasant To Know: Letters N, O & P

     Not un-
pleasant to know? Mr. Nabokov:* 
     he's whose 
novels -- Pale Fire and Lolita --
     promptly 
wring from one murmur (or sob or cough),
     even 
faster than dashes one's cheetah. 
     Though his 
characters frequently "have it off," 
     spreading 
Brie on their butts (or Velveeta), 
     that's no 
reason to dis Mr. Nabokov.
     Drown that
riff; down a stiff Margarita!
      * Vladimir Nabokov, his last name here pronounced with accent on the first syllable, as it in fact, whether rightly or wrongly, often is, despite the author's stated preference for a pronunciation stressing the second syllable. An octave employing the man's preferred pronunciation appears just below.

     Not un-
pleasant to know? Vlad Nabokov; 
     he's the 
bloke of whom, prior, we spoke of. 
     From his
haut fam'ly home, a baroque hof
     in St. 
Petersburg, Vladimir broke off.
     This dude 
died of bronchitis -- a slow cough --
     but his 
writing's miraculous: no scoff-
     ing at 
pleasant-to-know Vlad Nabokov: 
     (Lepi-
dopterist, too: such the show-off!)

     Not un-
pleasant to know? Ogden Nash:
     though New 
York born, a true Baltimoron. 
     Penning 
packets of puns was his "pash" --
     both in 
peacetime and when 'twas a war on --
    done for 
barter, or, often, for cash. 
     Asked if 
blithe, Nash repli'the, "Si, Senor! Hohn- 
     (sic) -or 
bright*...else I might not be Nash.
     Who im- 
plies otherwise? Shown the door, hon."**    
     * Read "honor bright" here, meaning 'on my honor.'
     ** Nash's use of the local honorific (or 'hon'orific?) 'hon' underscores the man's genuine Baltimoronstrosity.

     Not un-
pleasant to know: Mr. Poe;*
     of the 
myst'ry macab'e he be maven,
     going 
places less brave dare not go:
     deep in 
dialogue dark -- with a raven. 
     What pos-
sess'd him? We simply don't know.
     Offered 
Edgar, "I ain't misbehavin'!" 
     But as 
Poe reaps, so po' Poe must sow,
     he to 
madness eventu'lly gave in.
     * Edgar Allen Poe

     Not un-
pleasant to know: Mrs. Parker,* 
     whose bon 
mots -- (say) "Men seldom make passes
     (that et-
cet'ra)" -- while launched as a lark, were
     quite na-
ive 'bout attractive spec'd lasses.
     Well one 
asks, "Would Dot's dactyls play darker
     had they 
prophesied Mrs. Onassis? 
     Or a 
self-shaded shy Mrs. Parker --
     both of 
whom made much room for dark glasses?"
     * Dorothy Parker

     Not un-
pleasant to know: Mr. Peake.* 
     Prince of 
painters, he penned Titus Groan.
     Writing 
Gormenghast later that week, 
     he then 
tossed off his Titus Alone.
     If you 
fantastic fantasy seek,
     you should 
know: Mervyn's output's thus known.
     Not un-
pleasant to boot: Mervyn Peake,
     though to 
deadly dementia prone.
     * Mervyn Peake