Wednesday, November 25, 2009

67%

I once met a man from Kalamazoo
A strange lil’ fellow who lived in a zoo
He had three turtles but gave away two
He gave them away for six bright blue shoes

I once saw a man run pass this seashore
A strange lil’ fellow who slept on my floor
He had six blue shoes but gave away four
He gave them away for nine new screen doors

I once knew a man who wore white tunics
A strange lil’ fellow who juggled toothpicks
He had nine screen doors but gave away six
He gave them away for twelve candle sticks

I once heard a man who was my roommate
A strange lil’ fellow who always sang late
He had twelve candles but gave away eight
He gave them away for fifteen ice skates

I once watched a man who played in pigpens
A strange lil’ fellow who laughed like a hen
He had fifteen skates but gave away ten
He gave them away for eighteen small wrens

I once knew a man from Kalamazoo
A strange lil’ fellow who left one turtle,
Two blue shoes, three screen doors, four candle sticks,
Five ice skates, and eighteen wrens in my room.

Now where this fellow went nobody knows,
But when I find out I’ll bloody his nose.

4 comments:

  1. I have cousins in Kalamazoo, MI. Yes, it's a real place.

    Adam, I really enjoy the sing-song nonsense you played with here. As far as I can tell, this is the verbal version of one of my ridiculous sketches. :)

    Your first stanza is the strongest - it adheres to the rhythm, and sets the pattern of counting and randomness. Fun!

    Jed

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  2. I love the last couplet. I'd probably bloody his nose too.

    But then again, so much free stuff. Score.

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  3. Fun. Like a drunk Shel Silverstein.

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  4. Amen. I like the 2/3rds theme and the recurring mathematics. I like the quirky characters and exchange of merchandise. The verse is fun--I agree with Jed--tighten up the rhyme and meter and it'll flow.

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