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The wild horse champs the Parthenon's top frieze
For tea cucumber sandwiches a scone
Replies like this the dumbstruck brain may tease
One gathers rosebuds or grows old alone
How it suprised us pale grey underlings
With sombre thoughts they grimly line the nave
Th'outrageous Thames a troubled arrow slings
For burning bushes never fish forgave
The fasting fakir doesn't smell the less
With quill white-collared through his life will jog
The country lane just thrives on farmyard mess
Lobsters for sale must be our apologue
Suits lisping Spanish tongues for whom say some
Fried grilled black pudding's still the world's best yum


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.