Adventures In Doggerel

When I was a lad and somewhat brash I often read the poems of Ogden Nash, whose humourous rhymes on many themes, was motivation for my own poetic dreams. Later when I took to reading Edgar Allen Poe, more of this clever author, I longed to know. Words from this expert Poet either stimulated my talent, or left me wholly discombobulated! When I progressed to renowned Edward Lear; an expert at composing Limericks, twas clear, with tongue in cheek, and saucy composition, he'd shock readers with his lack of inhibition! Then came E.C. Bentley, inventor of the clerihew, who wrote biographical pieces, to mock a few stuffed shirts, and pompous egocentric jerks. His short poems were succinctly clever works. The list of humourous poets found, is long tis true, but not all their works are suited to me and you. If you seek insight into their clever rhyming minds, it is within web sites of the Internet today one finds, their recorded words. Tis true, their style of teasing is not suited to all. To some they are not pleasing, for their words are thought rude and unwelcome; regarding such rhymes as uncouthly unwholesome. As for me, many poets found in literary perusing, have written rhymes, I thought cleverly amusing. Others had composed lines, deviously captivating, and succeeded by subtle nuance, to be titillating. Some with punning innuendo, fired my imagination. Though I seldom criticize, will by close examination, and applied studious consideration as to a poet's intent, accept their simple humour as honestly penned content. Later, chancing upon the witticisms of Benny Hill, with his deviously clever ditties, many hours I'd fill, but few can emulate his cleverly bodacious rhymes, that kept me in stitches, laughing at him betimes. Others such as Pam Ayres, Fletcher and Spike Milligan, also possessed a flair for writing literary shenanigan. With their rhymes that amused and titillated, their intent was to lampoon, with basic humour, the establishment. This is sweet music to the ears of this older English émigré; as are the soliloquies rendered by Stanley Holloway, but to appreciate such rhymes, one must be literarily liberal if they would comprehend the humour within such doggerel. Though many have tried their hand, few achieve success, and often their best efforts fail. Writers are seen as less accomplished than notable persona they strive to emulate. Rare is the rhymster that achieves their dream, to become great! Yes, I too have tried my hand at composing foolish rhymes, and have achieved some small success, a few odd times, but I find writing rhyming falderal is difficult to attain, for sadly, I do not possess a devious innovative brain! Rhymer. August 25th, 2016