100,000,000,000,000 poems

The wild horse champs the Parthenon's top frieze
For tea cucumber sandwiches a scone
Replies like this the dumbstruck brain may tease
One gathers rosebuds or grows old alone
Old Galileo's Pisan offerings
The North Wind Bites into his architrave
He's gone to London how the echo rings
For burning bushes never fish forgave
Poetic licence needs no strain or stress
A bird-brain banquet melts bold Mistress Mog
Poor Yorick comes to bury not address
But I can understand you Brogher Gog
Do bank clerks rule their abacus by thumb
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.