100,000,000,000,000 poems

The acid tongue with gourmet's expertise
His exaltation shocked both youth and crone
His toga rumpled high above his knees
Normal one aims to be and share the throne
How it suprised us pale grey underlings
That metred rhyme alone can souls enslave
Such merchandise a melancholy brings
Victorious worms grind all into the grave
It's no good rich men crying Heaven Bless
Shallots and sharks'fins face the smould'ring log
Watching manure and compost coalesce
But I can understand you Brogher Gog
Though bretzels take the dols from board-room drum
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.