Looking through my notes from my Masters program tonight, I came across a handout of Wendy Cope's Waste Land Limericks. I'd almost forgotten how brilliant and hilarious they are! You have to know the Eliot poem to truly appreciate them but I think they're entertaining regardless.
1
In April one seldom feels cheerful;
Dry stones, sun and dust make me fearful;
Clairvoyantes distress me,
Commuters depress me -
Met Stetson and gave him an earful.
2
She sat on a mighty fine chair,
Sparks flew as she tidied her hair;
Shee asks many questions,
I make few suggestions -
Bad as Albert and Lil - what a pair!
3
The Thames runs, bones rattle, rats creep;
Tiresias fancies a peep -
A typist is laid,
A record is played -
Wei la la. After this it gets deep
4
A Phoenician called Phlebas forgot
About birds and his business - the lot,
Which is no surprise,
Since he'd met his demise
And been left in the ocean to rot.
5
No water. Dry rocks and dry throats,
Then thunder, a shower of quotes
From the Sanskrit and Dante.
Da. Damyata. Shantih.
I hope you'll make sense of the notes.
No comments:
Post a Comment