100,000,000,000,000 poems

The wild horse champs the Parthenon's top frieze
His nasal ecstasy beats best Cologne
Replies like this the dumbstruck brain may tease
And empty cages show life's bird has flown
The roundabout eats profits made on swings
With sombre thoughts they grimly line the nave
In salads all chew grubs before they've wings
For burning bushes never fish forgave
It's no good rich men crying Heaven Bless
Or grinning like a pale-faced golliwog
From cool Parnassus down to wild Loch Ness
We'll suffocate before the epilogue
Ventriloquists be blowed you strike me dumb
Fried grilled black pudding's still the world's best yum


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.