100,000,000,000,000 poems

The acid tongue with gourmet's expertise
Licks round carved marble chops on snails full-blown
The understanding critic firstly sees
Normal one aims to be and share the throne
It's one of many horrid happenings
Nought can the mouse's timid nibbling stave
Proud death quite il-le-gi-ti-mate-ly stings
Victorious worms grind all into the grave
Staunch pilgrims longest journeys can't depress
And starve the sniveling baby like a dog
On wheels the tourist follows hos hostess
We'll suffocate before the epilogue
With marble souvenirs then fill a slum
The best of all things to an end must come


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.