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The acid tongue with gourmet's expertise
His exaltation shocked both youth and crone
Replies like this the dumbstruck brain may tease
'Ere meanings new to ancient tribes are thrown
They both are right not untamed mutterings
The North Wind Bites into his architrave
The fertile mother changelings drops like kings
Victorious worms grind all into the grave
The fasting fakir doesn't smell the less
With gravity at gravity's great cog
The colonel's still escutcheoned in undress
With breaking voice across the Alps they slog
Suits lisping Spanish tongues for whom say some
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.