100,000,000,000,000 poems

The wild horse champs the Parthenon's top frieze
Through snobbish growing round her hemline zone
Replies like this the dumbstruck brain may tease
While sharks to let's say potted shrimps are prone
They both are right not untamed mutterings
Rejecting ermine to become a knave
In salads all chew grubs before they've wings
In purest cradels tha's how they behave
It's no good rich men crying Heaven Bless
A piercint wit would sprightliest horses flog
Socrates watched his hemlock effervesce
Lobsters for sale must be our apologue
The Taj Mahal has trinkets spice and gum
And lessors' dates have all too short a sum


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.