100,000,000,000,000 poems

Prose took the minstrel's verse without a squeeze
That horders of crooks felt they'd more right to own
Replies like this the dumbstruck brain may tease
The thumb- and finger-prints of Al Capone
They both are right not untamed mutterings
Rejecting ermine to become a knave
He's gone to London how the echo rings
Victorious worms grind all into the grave
Emboggled minds may puff and blow and guess
With quill white-collared through his life will jog
On wheels the tourist follows hos hostess
Their sculptors did our best our hulks the clog
Suits lisping Spanish tongues for whom say some
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.