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| Harry Graham (Picture courtesy of BBC) |
Here's a couple of examples of his work:
Carelessness
A window-cleaner in our street
Who fell (five storeys) at my feet
Impaled himself on my umbrella.
I said: "Come, come, you careless fella!
If my umbrella had been shut
You might have landed on my nut!"
Quite Fun
My son Augustus, in the street, one day,
Was feeling quite exceptionally merry.
A stranger asked him: "Can you show me, pray,
The quickest way to Brompton Cemetery?"
"The quickest way? You bet I can!" said Gus,
And pushed the fellow underneath a bus.
Whatever people say about my son,
He does enjoy his little bit of fun.
He was by all accounts a very affable and amiable chap so his poems were certainly intended to be humorous rather than offensive. OK, they don't scan very well and have unsophisticated rhyming schemes (to say the least) but I think they're fun.
Here's another one:
Indifference
When Grandmamma fell off the boat,
And couldn’t swim, and wouldn’t float,
Maria just sat by and smiled -
I almost could have slapped the child!
Apparently the 1901 New York edition is quite collectable.
8 comments:
Hi Bazza,
Thank you so much for this whimsical post!
I really think you choose the most-
Fabulous subjects to on which to write-
And so I toast to your blogging might!
The Snee: You flatter me with your kind words. But I only post about things that interest me, it's all pleasure for me made greater by your kind appreciation. I am sure you will enjoy a post I am preparing now about saucy British seaside postcards!
Hi bazza,
I will have to concur with that superb blogger, 'THE SNEE', on this.
A most whimsical delight.
This posting is rather like what a delightful blogger by the name of 'Count Sneaky' submits.
Saucy British seaside postcards? Suddenly, I had this image of Blackpool.
Have a good week, bazza.
Kind wishes, Gary.
Hello Gary: I'll follow up on Count Sneaky, it sounds good. Blackpool, seaside rock and sea-shell Jesus statues is what it conjurs up for me. Enjoy your weekend.
I think my grandfather, the late Lord Eagerly of Throbnorton, was always quoting Harry Graham. I never dreamed he really existed!
He once asked me if I liked Kipling. "I don't know Grandpapa", I repled "I've never kipled!"
Sir Tom: Oh dear. I suppose I should be pleased you didn't leave a really naughty poem in your comment! Thanks for visiting. I think.
oh, i like the word whimsical for this post... very entertaining... and I most especially love the photograph.
Joanne: Yes whimsical seems to be the key word in responses to this post! It's amazing what can be got away with by using a dash of charm.
In fact there are many things that are easier to say with the use of poetry.
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