100,000,000,000,000 poems

Prose took the minstrel's verse without a squeeze
For tea cucumber sandwiches a scone
The showman gargles fire and sword with ease
Which neither time nor tide can long postpone
They both are right not untamed mutterings
Filching the lolly country thrift helped save
A daring baron pockets precious Mings
To break a rule Britannia's might might waive
The peasants's skirts on rainy days she'd tress
One tongue will do to keep the verse agog
On wheels the tourist follows hos hostess
But I can understand you Brogher Gog
Poor reader smile before your lips go numb
They're kings we're mammal-cousins hi ho hum


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.