100,000,000,000,000 poems

He bent right down to pick up his valise
When masons clutch the breath we held on loan
Replies like this the dumbstruck brain may tease
While sharks to let's say potted shrimps are prone
Oh how oh how he hates such pilferings
Were pots graffiti'd over by a slave
The learning linguist cameramaniac sings
For burning bushes never fish forgave
It's no good rich men crying Heaven Bless
Or grinning like a pale-faced golliwog
While homeward thirsts to each quenched glass say yes
No need to cart such treasures from the fog
On fish-slab whale nor seal has never swum
A wise loaf always knows its humblest crumb


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.