Customer Reviews

Pocket Book of Ogden Nash

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Often unheard of poet, Ogden Nash, serves as a reminder that poetry itself does not need to be mushy, polite or romantic. Or for that matter psychological, philisophical or religious. Nash's poetry, written from the early 20's to the late 50's is remark on the social niceties. A critique of the love-hate relationship of men and women. A funny peek into the lives of animals. And silly stories for the sake of being silly. The uniqueness in Nash's work is not the poetry itself, but his play with words. Its clear he does not take language seriously at all which allows him to mix and maneuver words to create new ones that will create a genuine laugh. Such as: "Well I have learned that life is something about which you can't conclude anything except that it is full of vicissitudes. And when you expect logic you only come across eccentricitudes." The other aspect of Nash's writing is his outlaw verse where, although things rhyme, the rythm is thown askew.

"I know that a year has rolled around once more

When I find myself thumbing a crisp new cigarette lighter just like the coven of other cigarette lighters strewn on a shelf in the garage along with the broken tire chains and the license plates for 1934."

Nash's work was surely ahead of its time and I am dleighted to have come across such remarkable work. I highly reccomend this, not just to poetry lovers, but also to those that appreciate language and humor.

I don't really enjoy reading poetry, and I don't suggest reading volumes of poetry at a time. I do, however, suggest reading this book of Ogden Nash, reading the poems individually instead of as a collection. Some may find his verse stupid, some simple, but I find it charming.

This was an excellent book if u are in the dumps and want to laugh, I sure did, it pulled me out of my 12 year depression, after i read this book i decided to go after my life long dream of becoming...