In one of his classic texts, Queneau displays a hundred prose
versions of a single tale -- its mundane specifics spelled out in the
book's opening "Notation" chapter -- versions which might issue
from any creative author's imagination constrained by the categories
indicated by the book's chapter titles. In "Rhymes," poetaster Uly Poe
demonstrates how oodles of poetic expressions can riff on some of
those same specifics.
A is for acrostic (here a double acrostic).
Rush hour! "Yours t." 'board some stuff'd S-line buS
At the back, on the balcony (platform), pack'd tighT.
"You me pousse,'" I hear thin-neck'd Sir Sillyhat saY.
"Moins, moins jostlin'!" (Our bus, truth be told. is quite fulL.)
On the head of this jostlee's a tile of the typE
Now unchic, for, instead of its hatband, I seE,
Dangling over its brim, a string (late off a boX...?).
Quite grotesque, if you really must know. Oui: bizarrE!
Until now I've not noticed the neck of this passengeR,
Eas'ly as long as a brontazore's (siC).
Now the sardine can empties. All leave, as do I...
Except Jostlee: giraffe one now-vacant seat grabS.
A short hour or two on, I observe him once morE.
"Ugly job," notes his friend. "Your lapel's such a mesS!"
H is for haiku.
Spring! Bus-board buttin';
porkpie'd loon grabs vacant seat:
snip! Button's tailor'd.
L is for limerick.
One
There was a young buck 'board a bus
who, when bruis'd 'bout his shanks, broach'd a fuss.
Later on, dans Le Cour,
his valet observ'd, "Your
coat's lapel button fixing needs...thus!"
Two
Odd Commuter, his personal space
interfered with (his hat...? A disgrace!),
newly vacant seat grabs.
Later on, his friend gabs:
"Let's your overcoat's button replace."
P is for pantoum.
'Tis mid-day rush. I board an S-line bus.
I'm standing on the platform at the back.
A long-neck'd cove of twenty-some complains:
"Commuters! Must you deal my shins a thwack...?"
A long-neck'd cove of twenty-some complains:
"Commuters! Must you deal my shins a thwack...?"
I'm standing on the platform at the back.
Monsieur Le Plaindre sports a silly hat.
"Commuters! Must you deal my shins a thwack...?"
Some string sits where his hat band should be at.
Monsieur Le Plaindre sports a silly hat.
His neck's too long; his tone's a sniv'lling drone.
Some string sits where his hat band should be at.
I spot him later; he is not alone.
His neck's too long; his tone's a sniv'lling drone.
A vacant seat...? He makes himself at home.
I spot him later; he is not alone.
He's in discussion, near the Cour de Rome.
A vacant seat...? He makes himself at home.
Then he's away. ('Cross town he must have raced.)
He's in discussion near the Cour de Rome:
"That button on your coat's s-o-o-o poorly placed."
Q is for quatrain.
Quatrain For Queneau: An Anagram Poem on "Raymond Queneau"
Raymond Queneau, ye neon aqua drum.
Damn! You 'n' a queer need a -- any! -- quorum.
O Ray! Manque (nude) ran queue Monday.
Mary, Queen o' Duna: mud...? Ne'er on a quay!
O Ray! Manque (nude) ran queue Monday.
Mary, Queen o' Duna: mud...? Ne'er on a quay!
