Doggerel! with Ceejay Writer (Unedited)

Baron Klaus Wulfenbach: A short version of our usual introductions:
Sera is still playing with all the sits in these beautiful chairs
Ceejay Writer: Rory! Wonderful to see ya!
Rory Torrance: delightful to be seen as well!
Rory Torrance: and likewisee
Rory Torrance: without the extra ‘e’
Baron Klaus Wulfenbach: There are refreshments in the back, you may wish to de-script yourself while you are sitting, and donations to support the Salon may be made to this excellent clank floating in the middle of the room.
Baron Klaus Wulfenbach: Fraulein Writer needs no introduction, quite literally, in New Babbage.
Zaida Gearbox consideres shooting the clank with her sling shot
Wildstar Beaumont: greetings everyone
Ceejay Writer waves at Wildstar
Rory Torrance: low hanging fruit, there, zaida. where’s the challenge?
Jimmy Branagh waves to Commander Beaumont
Baron Klaus Wulfenbach: She has participated in many long-lived institutions here, and is well-known throught the Steamlands as a whole.
Ceejay Writer blushes
Baron Klaus Wulfenbach: We are delighted to welcome her back today, and thank her publically for taking over the Aether Salon aether-journal, at https://aethersalon.home.blog/.
Baron Klaus Wulfenbach applauds
Zaida Gearbox grins at mr. rory – i like shooting clanks on general principal
Jimmy Branagh applauds
Wildstar Beaumont: ♪♫♥ Applauds!!! ♥♫♪
Tanarian Davies: Hooray!
Ceejay Writer smiles at everyone
Rory Torrance: author! author!
Sera applauds
Zaida Gearbox applauds and whistles, “yay miz ceejay!!!”
Ceejay Writer: You are all much too kind!
Ceejay Writer: Since I have received various reactions when I mention the word ‘Doggerel’, let’s start with a definition.
Ceejay Writer: Let’s crack into the Merriam-Webster dictionary and see what they say.

doggerel adjective
dog·ger·el | \ ˈdȯ-g(ə-)rəl , ˈdä- \
loosely styled and irregular in measure especially for burlesque or comic effect
also: marked by triviality or inferiority

Ephemeria: Good evening
Ceejay Writer: Why on earth would I choose doggerel as a topic, you ask? I’ve always loved poetry, and while I appreciate the classics, my preference has always been for the silly stuff. In 4th grade, my class was given an assignment: memorize a notable published poem and recite it in front of the class.
Jimmy Branagh waves
Stereo Nacht: Me quietly waves around so not to disturb the speaker
Ceejay Writer: I chose “Eletelephony” by Laura Elizabeth Richards. I enhanced my recital with an emotional, heartfelt delivery and dramatic theatrical gestures. I was rewarded with giggles from my classmates. My teacher gifted me with an eyeroll, heavy sigh and an ‘A+’. Life was good. Here’s that poem:
Rory Torrance: an old fave
Ceejay Writer: Once there was an elephant,
Who tried to use the telephant—
No! No! I mean an elephone
Who tried to use the telephone—
(Dear me! I am not certain quite
That even now I’ve got it right.)
Howe’er it was, he got his trunk
Entangled in the telephunk;
The more he tried to get it free,
The louder buzzed the telephee—
(I fear I’d better drop the song
Of elephop and telephong!)
Wildstar Beaumont: 🙂
Rory Torrance: i forget who wrote that tho
Jimmy Branagh applauds
Ceejay Writer: Laura Elizabeth Richards, Rory
Rory Torrance: ah
Baron Klaus Wulfenbach applauds
Ceejay Writer: Currently I’m writing a Victorian ABC poetry book, in collaboration with an artist friend. Each letter of the alphabet gets a poem and an illustration. A is for Ada, B is for Babbage, and so on through Z is for Zeotrope. Allow me to inflict a snippet on you.
Rory Torrance: a luvvily piece
Ephemeria: Please do
Ceejay Writer: C is for Corset
Feminine curves are sculpted by whalebone
Or, more accurately, it’s called ‘baleen’
Milady is shaped, from bosom to tailbone
(With sincere apologies sent to her spleen)

Tightlacing trains a rebellious waistline
We’ve learned how to love our elegant shapers
An hourglass figure is just so divine
For it we’ll endure a bout of the vapors

In the name of fashion, we do what we must
“Where there’s a will, there’s a way”
An adage milady might wish to adjust
“Where there’s a whale, there’s a stay”
Rory Torrance:
Jimmy Branagh chuckles
Ceejay Writer: If I can make Rory grin, it’s high honor, indeed.
Rory Torrance: keep it up and you shall have me giggling!
Ceejay Writer: But enough about me. I’d like to introduce you to some famous funny poets and give you a taste of their work. After that, we’ll delve into a vintage American roadside oddity. And finally, I’ll offer some advice for any aspiring comedic poets in the room.
Rory Torrance: im not so much aspiring as incurable
Ceejay Writer: We’ll start with Lewis Carroll.
Wildstar Beaumont waves at Liz
Ceejay Writer: I chose Mr. Carroll to mention first, because of “Jabborwocky”. In recent years, it’s become fashionable for folk to offhandedly recite the first line of one of the most important nonsense poems ever written. I’m never sure if those folk have read beyond the first line, but we’re going to do just that!
Ceejay Writer: “Jabborwocky” is found in Carroll’s 1872 novel, “Through the Looking-Glass; and what Alice found there”. Alice discovers a very confusing book written in mirror-writing. When she looks at it in a mirror held to the book, this, to her further confusion, is what she reads:
Ceejay Writer: `Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

“Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!”

He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought —
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.

And, as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.

“And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!’
He chortled in his joy.

`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
Ceejay Writer hopes the Baron has medics waiting in the wings
Jimmy Branagh chuckles
Baron Klaus Wulfenbach: I am a doctor, if that helps.
Jimmy Branagh: Oy talk loike thet sometoimes after th’ bar visits.
Ceejay Writer: I’m sure before long we’ll accept any help we cn get.
Ceejay Writer: ‘m sure you do, Jimmy!
Jimmy Branagh nids
Jimmy Branagh: nods too
Rory Torrance: another old favorite. and ive never quite forgotten the parody of it they did in mad magazie
Rory Torrance: magazine
Ceejay Writer: And after THAT, as a palate cleanser, let’s move on to Mr. Willard Espy.
Ceejay Writer: (and I never saw that! I’ll google it up, Rory)
Ceejay Writer: Mr. Espy is one of my all-time favorite wordsmiths. He’s written many books, but two of my favorites are “Almanac of Words at Play” and “O Thou Improper, Thou Uncommon Noun”, both of which are on my bookshelf, looking very well-worn. I believe they’re out of print now, but you might nab used copies. They’re well worth hunting for.
Rory Torrance: ooh indeed they are
Ceejay Writer: This is my favorite of his poems, though I love all of them. You need to know that the ‘philtrum’ is that vertical groove in the middle of your upper lip, running up to your nose.
Ceejay Writer: “I Have A Little Philtrum”

I have a little philtrum
Wherein my spilltrum flows
When I am feeling illtrum
And runny at the nose.
Jimmy Branagh: MAD – http://www76.pair.com/keithlim/jabberwocky/parodies/jabberwhacky.html
Ceejay Writer: Excellent, Jimmy. That link will be in the posted transcript.
Jimmy Branagh: 🙂
Rory Torrance: thats the one, jimmy
Rory Torrance: jiminny sleekit, you’re quick!
Jimmy Branagh: L)
Jimmy Branagh: 🙂
Ceejay Writer: Speaking of doctors, which I was just a few minutes ago…. everyone has heard of this one. Dr. Seuss!
Liz Wilner smiles
Wildstar Beaumont: 🙂
Ceejay Writer: Theodor Seuss Geisel wrote over 60 books under the pen name of Dr. Seuss. According to an expert source CoughVerndenJervilCough, Dr. Seuss almost didn’t get published because his writing didn’t always rhyme.
Jimmy Branagh: (I still have all ny Seuss books))
Rory Torrance: he was a huge influence on my warped childhood
Baron Klaus Wulfenbach waves a greeting at
Ceejay Writer: Influenced me too. Horton Hears A Who gave me my first opportunity to think globally.
Baron Klaus Wulfenbach: …Fraulein Ushimawa.
Ceejay Writer: The first of his children’s books was “And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street”, published in 1937. One of his most popular books is “Green Eggs and Ham”, with its repetitive, simple rhyming style, which made learning to read easy and fun for countless children.
Rory Torrance: i was especially inspired by “on beyond zebra”
Ceejay Writer: Do you like green eggs and ham?
I do not like them, Sam-I-Am.
I do not like green eggs and ham.
Would you like them here or there?
I would not like them here or there.
I would not like them anywhere.
I do not like green eggs and ham.
I do not like them, Sam-I-Am.

And, of course, it escalates from there.
Ceejay Writer: Fun fact: China banned “Green Eggs and Ham” from 1965 to 1991 due to its “portrayal of early Marxism.”
Rory Torrance: hahaha
Jimmy Branagh: Th; rotters …
Wildstar Beaumont: !!!
Ceejay Writer: I know, right?
Rory Torrance: talk about reverse projection…
Tanarian Davies: How is it Marxist?
Ceejay Writer: No, it’s portrayal of Marxism.
Liz Wilner: remember the characters Thing 1 and Thing 2? and…Truffula Trees!
Ceejay Writer: Or so they said.
Liz Wilner: I love all the Dr. Suess books 🙂
Jimmy Branagh waves to Miss Liz
Ceejay Writer: Okay, I’m going to step into really dangerous territory next….
Rory Torrance: do!
Liz Wilner waves to Jimmy
Ceejay Writer: brace yourselves. If you have laudinum, take it NOW/
Rory Torrance: way ahead of you
Baron Klaus Wulfenbach chuckles
Liz Wilner: I live there!
Emerson Lighthouse: on it
Liz Wilner: LOL
Sera smiles
Ceejay Writer: Our next poet is named Prostetnic Vogon Jeltz
Zaida Gearbox: i thought new babbage was dangerous territory
Rory Torrance: oh dear
Tanarian Davies: Uh-oh.
Ephemeria: No not Vogon poetry
Sera: Yay!!! I recognize the poet
Ceejay Writer: Before I inflict Prostetnic Vogon Jeltz on you, let’s find out what a famous reference guide has to say about poetry:
Vernden Jervil: He isn’t the worst!
Ceejay Writer: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy has this to say about Poetry. Vogon poetry is of course the third worst in the Universe. The second worst is that of the Azgoths of Kria. During a recitation by their Poet Master Grunthos the Flatulent of his poem “Ode To A Small Lump of Green Putty I Found In My Armpit One Midsummer Morning” four of his audience died of internal haemorrhaging, and the President of the Mid-Galactic Arts Nobbling Council survived by gnawing one of his own legs off. Grunthos is reported to have been “disappointed” by the poem’s reception, and was about to embark on a reading of his twelve-book epic entitled My Favourite Bathtime Gurgles when his own major intestine, in a desperate attempt to save life and civilization, leapt straight up through his neck and throttled his brain.
Ephemeria: where is the parsley to stick in my ears?
Ceejay Writer: The very worst poetry of all perished along with its creator, Paula Nancy Millstone Jennings of Greenbridge, Essex, England in the destruction of the planet Earth.
Wildstar Beaumont: LOL
Ceejay Writer: Now, on with Prostetnic’s poem.
Ceejay Writer picks up the poem with tongs and hurls it into the center of the room.
Ceejay Writer: Oh freddled gruntbuggly,
Thy micturations are to me,
As plurdled gabbleblotchits, in midsummer morning
On a lurgid bee,
That mordiously hath blurted out,
Its earted jurtles, grumbling
Into a rancid festering confectious organ squealer.
Now the jurpling slayjid agrocrustles,
Are slurping hagrilly up the axlegrurts,
And living glupules frart and stipulate,
Like jowling meated liverslime,
Groop, I implore thee, my foonting turlingdromes,
And hooptiously drangle me,
With crinkly bindlewurdles, mashurbitries.
Or else I shall rend thee in the gobberwarts with my blurglecruncheon,
See if I don’t!
Liz Wilner: goodness…whatever did he drink in massive quantities to write that! LOL
Rory Torrance reels, crying “sheer pottery!”
Emerson Lighthouse: ‘gruntbuggly’ is the most awesome word ever
Ceejay Writer: If anyone’s still alive, please try to make a sound, so I’ll know if I have any audience left.
Ephemeria: You are cruel reading Vogon poetry out loud
Ceejay Writer: I’m a horrible person, yes.
Vernden Jervil: AHHHHHH
Jimmy Branagh scribbles “blurglecruncheon” on his arm for later use.
Ephemeria: 🙂
Wildstar Beaumont grins
Baron Klaus Wulfenbach: Poetry about micturations. No wonder you needed a doctor.
Rory Torrance: at least he didnt say “belgium”
Liz Wilner laughs
Ceejay Writer: QUICKLY, let’s flee to the next topic! Oh, wait. Oh dear… this isn’t much better.
Ceejay Writer: William Topaz McGonagall.
Ceejay Writer: While gathering my list of poets, I decided to save the worst for last. Yes, there’s a human worse than a Vogon. William Topaz McGonagall is possibly the worst poet to ever have existed. “The Tay Bridge Disaster” holds the distinction of being as much of a disaster as the disaster itself.
Stereo Nacht noisily waves her parasol
Rory Torrance: such versimilitude!
Ceejay Writer: This Scottish millworker suddenly decided, at age 47, that he was a poet. He spent the next 25 years writing hundreds of poems and sharing them with the public. He was rewarded by having rotten fish thrown at him, being officially banned from public performances, and finally, dying penniless. In fact, had he known his own fate, he could have written one of his woeful sagas about himself.
Ceejay Writer: McGonagall Online ( http://www.mcgonagall-online.org.uk/ ) is the definitive website on this terrible poet. You’ll find, to your horror, 258 poems and for the truly masochistic reader, his lengthy, unintentionally funny autobiography.
Rory Torrance: reminds me of the poet in neil gaiman’s ‘graveyard book’…
Ceejay Writer: If you simply must have McGonagall’s works on your bookshelf, I pity you, implore you to seek professional help and grudgingly refer you to “William McGonagall: Collected Poems” https://amzn.to/3pgHO6d
Vernden Jervil: Always nice to be so bad and something history remembers.
Ceejay Writer: Oh, wait! I lied. Here’s another poet, and he’s chipper and cheery and just might save your life after the last two.
Ceejay Writer: Ogden Nash wrote over 500 poems. His most famous poem, “The Cow” is proof that even a short poem can be effective:

The cow is of the bovine ilk;
One end is moo, the other, milk
Rory Torrance: hee hee hee
Jimmy Branagh: Genius!
Ceejay Writer: And then there’s “Reflections on Ice-Breaking”

Candy
Is dandy
But liquor
Is quicker
Ephemeria: Wonderful
Rory Torrance: didn’t he also write the ‘purple cow’?
Ephemeria: very amusing
Stereo Nacht: (Doing pawkus before it was created!)
Ceejay Writer: I think he did, Rory.
Ceejay Writer: Mr. Nash was a master of word-mangling—an effective tool when creating silly poetry, such as this pair of groaners lifted out of longer poems:

A girl who’s bespectacled
May not get her nectacled

Farewell, farewell, you old rhinoceros,
I’ll stare at something less prepoceros
Vernden Jervil: Thinks this was an influence on Ceejay’s writing.
Ceejay Writer whistles and looks at the ceiling
Ceejay Writer: One of my favorite poetry tricks is when the poet drops a surprise ending on the reader. Apparently Mr. Nash liked that, too:

Some primal termite knocked on wood
And tasted it, and found it good!
And that is why your Cousin May
Fell through the parlor floor today.
Baron Klaus Wulfenbach: Heh.
Wulfriðe Blitzen : Reminds me of Roal Dahl’s nonsense poems.
Rory Torrance: actually had that happen to one of my sisters back when i was just a larva
Ceejay Writer: Very much so!
Ceejay Writer: My condolances, Rory.
Ceejay Writer: If you like this style of humor, I recommend “The Best of Ogden Nash”. It’s 496 pages of fun! https://amzn.to/3kiUiGw
Ceejay Writer: I was looking for something completely different when I fell upon “Concatenation of Doggerel: Book One: Robinson Bolkum’s trifling rhymes to bring you and me through these truly troublesome times to a happier occasion’s inaugural”.
Rory Torrance: good heavens! that’s a new one to me
Ceejay Writer: Yes, that is a 24-word title. And dammit, he rhymed doggerel with inaugural, something I was hoping to manage myself somewhere in this salon. When I peered inside the preview, I realized with horror that the entire book was set in Comic Sans. I’m not familiar at all with Mr. Bolkum, but now I’m strangely tempted to buy his book. https://amzn.to/3kpLT44
Ceejay Writer: If you aren’t a Boomer or an American, you may not have heard of the Burma-Shave road signs. From 1925 to 1966, a brushless shaving cream company ran a unique advertising campaign. At their peak, 7,000 Burma-Shave ‘poems’ could be found on the highways of America.
Rory Torrance: i recall them well
Ceejay Writer: Four or five signposts would be set along the shoulder of a highway, each 100 feet apart, giving motorists time to read each sign and anticipate the next one. The last sign in each group always featured the Burma-Shave logo. They became wildly popular, providing entertainment during long, boring road trips.
Ceejay Writer: At first the shaving cream company wrote the rhymes, but after a while they held contests for the public, with the chance to win $100—a decent amount of money for those days. Contests sometimes drew up to 50,000 entries.
Ceejay Writer: Here’s a couple of the rhymes to give you a taste of their brand of humor.
Ceejay Writer: The bearded lady
Tried a jar
She’s now
A famous
Movie Star
BURMA-SHAVE
(1934)
Jimmy Branagh: hehe
Ceejay Writer whispers: .Ben
Met Anna
Made a hit
Neglected beard
Ben-Anna Split
BURMA-SHAVE
(1960)
Ceejay Writer: Hmm. I did not mean to whisper that. shouts BURMA SHAVE!
Ceejay Writer: Nearly all of the Burma-Shave rhymes have been archived at http://burma-shave.org/jingles/ in groupings by year. If you like corny poems, or are interested in American history, you’ll want to poke around in there.
Ceejay Writer: “The Verse by the Side of the Road”, written in 1965 by Frank Rowsome, Jr. is the definitive book about the Burma-Shave phenomenon. It contains all the verses plus the history of the company. It’s out of print, so try to find yourself a used copy.
Rory Torrance: please may we have another?
Ceejay Writer: Hee! I only brought two tonight!
Ceejay Writer: The Hypertexts ( http://www.thehypertexts.com/ ) is a poetry showcase, created over 20 years ago, which explains it’s old-school text style. Don’t let that put you off. What it lacks in beautiful design is more than made up for in literary content. It’s not an abandoned, stagnant site, it’s still being maintained. Here’s a link that drills down to their page devoted to doggerel.
http://www.thehypertexts.com/The Best Doggerel of All Time.htm
Rory Torrance: but that was only one
Ceejay Writer: Maybe you missed the one I whispered!
Ceejay Writer: Ben
Met Anna
Made a hit
Neglected beard
Ben-Anna Split
BURMA-SHAVE
(1960)
Rory Torrance: apparently so
Rory Torrance: aha
Rory Torrance: i think i remember one — the classic “when in danger / or in doubt / run in circles / scream and shout”
Ceejay Writer: That was my dad’s motto!
Ceejay Writer: And now…. a certain limerick that has a reputation.
Ceejay Writer: It contains the word, “Nantucket”
Ceejay Writer: Don’t worry, Baron.
Zaida Gearbox giggles
Baron Klaus Wulfenbach flicks an eyebrow
Liz Wilner: hehe
Wulfriðe Blitzen : Hehehe
Ceejay Writer: The earliest published American limerick was written in 1902 by Prof. Dayton Voorhees for the Princeton Tiger, a college humor magazine. The first line may sound familiar. But unlike THAT version, THIS one is family friendly.
Rory Torrance is all agog
Ceejay Writer: There once was a man from Nantucket
Who kept all his cash in a bucket.
But his daughter, named Nan,
Ran away with a man
And as for the bucket, Nantucket.
Baron Klaus Wulfenbach chuckles
Jimmy Branagh: hehe
Ephemeria: giggles
Rory Torrance: oh i remember that one now!
Ceejay Writer: See? I can behave sometimes.
Vernden Jervil: kinda
Wulfriðe Blitzen : heh
Emerson Lighthouse: I always had trouble thinking of a rhyme for Nantucket. Now I know.
Ceejay Writer: Now comes the part where I offer advise so YOU can write silly poetry, too!
Baron Klaus Wulfenbach eyes Herr Lighthouse.
Ceejay Writer: While the limerick is probably the most popular form of funny poetry, you certainly aren’t limited to it. I found a list of 100 poetic forms. Ignore the 50 in the URL, the author got ambitious and expanded the list. ( https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/list-of-50-poetic-forms-for-poets )
Stereo Nacht: (Tinies are very good at it!)
Ceejay Writer: ((they really are!))
Ceejay Writer: So, there’s plenty of formats to choose from. Personally, I like strambottos. Especially with sour cream. Boom-tish. But seriously, folks, I think you should simply write what you want to, and then figure out later if your poem fits any particular format. If it doesn’t and you don’t want to alter it, that’s fine too. I don’t think Ogden Nash ever worried about format.
Rory Torrance: the very idea!
Ceejay Writer: Need a creative nudge? Try this poem generator ( https://www.poem-generator.org.uk/ ).
It will ask you for your name and some random words (it will tell you what kind). Then hit “Write Me A Poem” and watch the magic happen. You can refresh the page to get new versions until you like what you see, or use your browsers ‘back’ feature to tweak words that aren’t working well. There’s 14 types of poems to choose from. Careful though – this poem generator can be a little addictive, says the girl that completely forgot to have lunch that day. blush
Wildstar Beaumont: hehe
Ceejay Writer: A site I absolutely require to write poetry is https://www.rhymezone.com/. I’ve loved that little helper since forever. Bookmark it!
Rory Torrance: just what i need. i have enough on my hands with the ones that pop into my head when i least expect it
Ceejay Writer: You are welcome, Rory! 😀
Ceejay Writer: Not sure what to write about? Here’s some prompting to get you going.
Ceejay Writer: Choose a topic: Do you have a funny story you could turn into a poem? Do you find certain parts of our bodies to be odd looking? (I was thinking of noses, I don’t know what YOU thought of). Is there a food that you think has a silly name, or weird ingredients? It’s all poetry fodder. What makes you laugh? Run with that. Unless it’s scissors. Don’t run with those.
Liz Wilner: lol
Ceejay Writer: Make a parody: Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. And when you deliberately exaggerate that imitation, you get parody. Choose an author you admire – or loathe. Try writing in their style. If you find you have a knack for parody, hurrah! You can expand that skill into the fine art of filking (song parodies).
Rory Torrance: already there, my dear
Ceejay Writer: You sure are!
Stereo Nacht things she must suggest “scissors” as a theme at some point…
Ceejay Writer: Exaggerate! Push a poem right over the top by making outrageous statements or putting your characters into absurd situations.
Ceejay Writer: Laughable words: Some words just can’t help but be funny. Parsnip. Spleen. Oxnard. What words make you laugh? Start with those, and build a little concept around them.
Tanarian Davies: Words with “K” sounds are inherently funny.
Stereo Nacht: Split spleen splendor?
Stereo Nacht: (Ok, I stop distracting the speaker.)
Ceejay Writer: Interesting, Tan!
Ceejay Writer: Nah, I like distractions.
Rory Torrance: r.a.lafferty claimed that ‘chicago’ was the funniest name in the world
Ceejay Writer: Pick a Format: Sometimes I find that choosing a traditional format gives me some support to build a poem on. Other times, I’m in a mood to just freeform it. A fun beginner’s form is Haiku. It’s not intimidating, they are very short, and if you come up with a good one, you’ll be able to casually mention, “I enjoy writing Haiku” at your next cocktail party. I mean, look at this. See how easy?

My zipper is down
No one has told me all day
Who are my real friends
Tanarian Davies spittakes
Ephemeria: very good Stereo
Emerson Lighthouse: Wait, are you reading my mind
Ceejay Writer: (stole that from Reddit)
Rory Torrance: humorous haiku is the rarest of forms…
Ceejay Writer: Whatever method you use, I encourage you to play around with creating funny poetry. If it doesn’t work, hopefully the attempt will amuse you. If anyone does write something they’re pleased with and wants to share it with the world, I’d be happy to start a page at the Aether Salon website to feature poems inspired by this Salon. Just send me a notecard with your poem and your chosen pen name. Fame and fortune can be yours! Well, not from poetry, but I’m fairly certain that fame and fortune are out there somewhere, and could be obtained… somehow.
Baron Klaus Wulfenbach nods approvingly
Ceejay Writer: If you want an audience for your poems right here in Second Life, I encourage you to attend the next Tall Tales and Outright Lies gathering, where writers share whatever they’ve been working on. We meet at the R.F. Burton Library in Babbage Canals every other Saturday morning from 7:00am-8:30am SLT. Everyone is welcome. Even if you don’t have something to share, a listening audience is always appreciated. Check the Aether Chrononauts calendar ( http://www.aetherchrononauts.org/ ), or the City of New Babbage website ( https://cityofnewbabbage.net/ ) for our next session.
Ceejay Writer: Thanks for your endurance! I know I’ve only scratched the surface—and I’m sorry, I’ll polish that out later—of the many fun poets out there, but I do hope I’ve piqued your interest enough to keep you looking for more.
Ephemeria: thank you Ceejay, it was very inspiring
Stereo Nacht: *.¸.*´ APPLAUSE.¸.´APPLAUSE `.¸.´
Jimmy Branagh applauds
Ceejay Writer smiles
Vernden Jervil: cheers
Jimmy Branagh: YAY!
Liz Wilner applauds
Wulfriðe Blitzen applauds
Ephemeria: applause
Ceejay Writer: Any questions or comments, holler em out!
Jimmy Branagh: Very interesting!
Baron Klaus Wulfenbach applauds
Rory Torrance: indeed and lovely to be reminded of my childhood influences
Wildstar Beaumont applauds
Ceejay Writer: We’re never too old to have a happy childhood, a wise person once said.
Baron Klaus Wulfenbach: Pay the tipbot in front of the lectern to express your appreciation of our speaker, as you wish.
Rory Torrance nods, and murmurs ‘tom robbins’
Ceejay Writer: There’s lots of places in Second Life that encourage poetry, so stay on the lookout!
Jimmy Branagh: I’ll raise you Harold Robbins
Ceejay Writer: If you want to promote one, mention it and I’ll keep it in the posted chatlog.
Rory Torrance: with a forklift?
Stereo Nacht: Maybe the Baron would resurrect the Poetry Slam? I know the Tiny version (with lots of silly pawetry) is still going strong!
Jimmy Branagh chuckles
Ceejay Writer: Harold Robbins? Not Tom?
Baron Klaus Wulfenbach: I shall ask the Frauleins who have been running it.
Jimmy Branagh: Oy’m not making sense, Miss Ceejay. It’s your fault!
Jimmy Branagh: 🙂
Ceejay Writer: Sure, blame me!
Jimmy Branagh: hehe
Ceejay Writer: Tom Robbins doesn’t write much poetry, but he is a surreal, master wordsmith and I have all his stuffs.
Rory Torrance: indeed indeed
Emerson Lighthouse: Thanks Ceejay
Ceejay Writer: One of the best ways to learn the art of writing poetry is to READ a lot of poetry, which just so happens to be fun.
Emerson Lighthouse waves
Emerson Lighthouse: have to run
Ceejay Writer: Thanks for coming, Em!
Rory Torrance: on that note i might also mention the delirious songs of thomas pynchon, scattered throughout his novels
Stereo Nacht: Good night Mr. Lighthouse!
Baron Klaus Wulfenbach: Gute Nacht, anyone hastening off.
Jimmy Branagh: Oy only wrote two poems in me loife, an’ it wos under special circumstances.
Ceejay Writer: “Special”, hmmm.
Rory Torrance: they may be viewed on prestigious bathroom walls, i assume, jimmy?
Liz Wilner: hehe
Ceejay Writer stifles a cackle
Jimmy Branagh: Not that bad, Mr. Rory 🙂
Rory Torrance: well, live and learn eh
Jimmy Branagh nods lymphatically
Rory Torrance: well it has been a delightful occasion. nice ot see you all
Ceejay Writer: I’ll try to add a few poems to my Victorian ABC book tonight, you all have me feeling energized.
Baron Klaus Wulfenbach nods at Herr Torrance.
Ceejay Writer: See you next week at the library, Rory!
Ephemeria: It has been very entertaining, helas Ihave to retire now. Thank you dear Ceejay
Jimmy Branagh: Thanks Miss Ceejay and Herr Baron! Noight awl!
Wulfriðe Blitzen : Night Jimmy, take care!
Jimmy Branagh: Stay safe.
Ceejay Writer: Sleep tight Jimmy!
Rory Torrance: see you then CJ
Baron Klaus Wulfenbach: Gute Nacht.
Ceejay Writer: Goodnight, Ephemeria!
Rory Torrance: whew, laggin like a dragon all of a sudden…
Rory Torrance: evening all!
Ephemeria: Herr Baron nice to have met again this evening. Thank you for the hospitality.
Wulfriðe Blitzen : Ack! I’ve got myself an ankle biter!
Baron Klaus Wulfenbach: I appreciate your attendance.
Tanarian Davies: You came!
Ephemeria: Yes dear master Torrance, it’s midnight here. time to go to bed 😉
Liz Wilner: thank you so much, Ceejay! that was a fun presentation! 🙂
Wildstar Beaumont: thank you Ceejay !
Ceejay Writer: I apprecate everyone who came, especially those who know what I’m like.
Wildstar Beaumont: good night everyone !
Ceejay Writer: Glad you enjoyed, Liz!
Baron Klaus Wulfenbach chuckles
Liz Wilner: thank you, Baron 🙂
Baron Klaus Wulfenbach: Danke, Your Grace.
Ceejay Writer: OH WAIT.
Wulfriðe Blitzen : I did, I was stapled to the Baron’s dirigible
Ceejay Writer: I have a gift.
Baron Klaus Wulfenbach bows
Liz Wilner: have a wonderful evening, everyone 🙂
Ephemeria: Herr Baron, good night.
Ceejay Writer: I forgot.
Ephemeria: good eveing everybody
Baron Klaus Wulfenbach: Fraulein Ceejay, shall we send it out as a notice?
Liz Wilner: ?
Ceejay Writer: That might be good!
Ceejay Writer: Its also on the stage, grabbable!