100,000,000,000,000 poems

The wild horse champs the Parthenon's top frieze
Since Elgin left his nostrils in the stone
The Turks said just take anything you please
While sharks to let's say potted shrimps are prone
It's one of many horrid happenings
With sombre thoughts they grimly line the nave
An icicle of frozen marrow pings
Etruscan words which Greece and Rome engrave
The fasting fakir doesn't smell the less
And starve the sniveling baby like a dog
To prove mamma an adult with a tress
But I can understand you Brogher Gog
The Taj Mahal has trinkets spice and gum
The best of all things to an end must come


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.