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The wild horse champs the Parthenon's top frieze
When masons clutch the breath we held on loan
The understanding critic firstly sees
Normal one aims to be and share the throne
O Parthenon you hold the charger's strings
With sombre thoughts they grimly line the nave
The fertile mother changelings drops like kings
To break a rule Britannia's might might waive
When dried the terrapin can naught express
Shallots and sharks'fins face the smould'ring log
From cool Parnassus down to wild Loch Ness
Lobsters for sale must be our apologue
On fish-slab whale nor seal has never swum
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.