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He bent right down to pick up his valise
When masons clutch the breath we held on loan
He bent right down and well what did he seize
Normal one aims to be and share the throne
O Parthenon you hold the charger's strings
Filching the lolly country thrift helped save
A daring baron pockets precious Mings
The nicest kids for strickiest toffees crave
The fasting fakir doesn't smell the less
Or grinning like a pale-faced golliwog
While homeward thirsts to each quenched glass say yes
Bard I adore your endless monologue
Do bank clerks rule their abacus by thumb
In cognac brandy is Bacardi rum?


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.