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At snuff no Cornish sailorman would sneeze
When masons clutch the breath we held on loan
Forms shadowy with indecision wheeze
One gathers rosebuds or grows old alone
To one sweet hour of bliss my memory clings
Were pots graffiti'd over by a slave
A daring baron pockets precious Mings
To break a rule Britannia's might might waive
The wolf devours both sheep and shepherdess
Or grinning like a pale-faced golliwog
Poor Yorick comes to bury not address
With breaking voice across the Alps they slog
The Taj Mahal has trinkets spice and gum
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.