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At snuff no Cornish sailorman would sneeze
His exaltation shocked both youth and crone
The showman gargles fire and sword with ease
While sharks to let's say potted shrimps are prone
Oh how oh how he hates such pilferings
Nought can the mouse's timid nibbling stave
Such merchandise a melancholy brings
In purest cradels tha's how they behave
The peasants's skirts on rainy days she'd tress
One tongue will do to keep the verse agog
Socrates watched his hemlock effervesce
No need to cart such treasures from the fog
The Taj Mahal has trinkets spice and gum
The bell tolls fee-less fi-less fo-less fum


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.