100,000,000,000,000 poems

The acid tongue with gourmet's expertise
Licks round carved marble chops on snails full-blown
He bent right down and well what did he seize
And empty cages show life's bird has flown
How it suprised us pale grey underlings
Nought can the mouse's timid nibbling stave
The learning linguist cameramaniac sings
Victorious worms grind all into the grave
It's no good rich men crying Heaven Bless
Or grinning like a pale-faced golliwog
While homeward thirsts to each quenched glass say yes
With breaking voice across the Alps they slog
And let you off from your opinions glum
For Europe's glory while Fate's harpies strum


Raymond Queneau

Translation to English by Stanley Chapman
found in "Oulipo Compendium"
Atlas 1998, ISBN 0-947757-96-1

Idea and implementation by Magnus Bodin 1997
Produced in the wonderful country of Sweden.