100,000,000,000,000 poems

The marble tomb gapes wide with jangling keys
For tea cucumber sandwiches a scone
The understanding critic firstly sees
While sharks to let's say potted shrimps are prone
Old Galileo's Pisan offerings
Whose ocean still-born herrings madly brave
Proud death quite il-le-gi-ti-mate-ly stings
That every verbal shock aims to deprave
Poetic licence needs no strain or stress
A piercint wit would sprightliest horses flog
To prove mamma an adult with a tress
Lobsters for sale must be our apologue
Ventriloquists be blowed you strike me dumb
In cognac brandy is Bacardi rum?


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.