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SPIKE MILLIGAN

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The church authorities were not happy with his request to put I told you I was ill on his headstone so the family got round it by having it written in Gaelic.

For Famous Person or Poetry Soup Poet Limerick Poetry Contest, Sponsored by Tania Kitchin.

Written On 26th August 2024

An unconventional comedian
Indian born comic Spike Milligan
His dark humour in sketches
Had the people in stitches
Without doubt was a very funny man.

When his friend Harry Secombe passed away
Spikes quite darkish humour came into play
Said "Glad he went before me
He'd have sang out of pity " 
At Spike's service they played one anyway . 

Now peacefully in his grave he lies still
In a lonely church yard up on the hill
His dark humour won the day
When sadly he passed away
His headstone says , I told you I was ill...

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Michael Tor

Date: 11/14/2024 7:09:00 AM

Heartfelt piece Tom. Today's comedians have a sick agenda they try to influence, us with their sad agendas. I use to love Johnny Carson, David Letterman, Jay Leno, Conan O'Brien now you have three clowns at night pushing their stupid agendas. Bring me back those great comedians of the past with no agendas and clean great comedy. I miss those days Tom. Thanks for stopping by my friend your comments are always enlightening and full of great wisdom. God bless you and enjoy the rest of your day...

Tom Cunningham
Date: 11/14/2024 8:14:00 AM

Thank you very much Michael, comedians today use a string of fowl language and think it's funny, I'm not a fan of modern comedians. Love the old silent black and white movies, they were hilarious, no health and safety in those days, performed all their own stunts too. Hope your week is going well. Tom

John Read

Date: 11/9/2024 5:33:00 AM

Hi Tom, those were the days when humour was really funny, sadly in my opinion all the best comedians have now passed on.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 11/9/2024 5:55:00 AM

Thank you very much John I couldn't agree more, using fowl language does not make good humour. The comedians of old didn't need it because they were funny. Tom

Gary Radice

Date: 9/23/2024 2:17:00 AM

Tom, you've captured the humour wonderfully of one of my favourite comedians. He was so 'out there' The Q series of programmes on tv was always essential viewing....."All men are cremated equal'" "How long was I in the army? Five foot eleven.".."It was a perfect marriage. She didn't want to and he couldn't." See what you've done now Tom? :) I'll stop there. :) Cheers - Gary

Tom Cunningham
Date: 9/23/2024 3:02:00 AM

Lol, without a doubt he was one of the greats in comedy and dark humour, who can ever forget the Goon show, all good clean humour. Two Ronnie's were another favourite of mine, four candles comes to mind lol. Tom

Beryl Edmonds

Date: 9/18/2024 1:28:00 PM

Fantastic limericks Tom. Have a wonderful time in Spain… Beryl

Tom Cunningham
Date: 9/18/2024 8:42:00 PM

Thank you very much Beryl, had a lovely time, heading home today. Hope you're keeping well. Tom

Janice Canerdy

Date: 9/16/2024 9:07:00 AM

There's nothing quite like having the last word! GOOD one, Tom. CONGRATS. Janice

Tom Cunningham
Date: 9/16/2024 9:28:00 AM

Thank you very much Janice, greetings from Spain, I'm on the move again, hope you're keeping well. Tom

thriveni c mysore

Date: 9/16/2024 6:43:00 AM

congratulations dear poet.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 9/16/2024 6:48:00 AM

Thank you very much Thriveni. Tom

Maria Williams

Date: 9/15/2024 11:41:00 PM

Congratulations on your win Tom. Andalusia in Spain seems a good place also. Ron and I made a video for Victor Buhagiar named 'Night of Love in Andalusia' with his poem as lyrics, adding music and vocals. Best watched on a large screen with full sound but good on a mobile as well. By clicking the image on Victor’s last post, you can also view it on my YouTube channel. Hugs Maria

Tom Cunningham
Date: 9/15/2024 11:53:00 PM

Thank you very much for your return visit and congrats Maria, Thanks for the tip, re Victors poem, I'll check it out later, breakfast and then the beach, forecast not good for tomorrow. Hope alls well. Tom

Karen Jones

Date: 9/15/2024 6:41:00 PM

Congratulations on your top win Tom!

Tom Cunningham
Date: 9/15/2024 11:01:00 PM

Thank you very much Karen, I'm travelling again. Greetings from Spain. Tom

Joseph May

Date: 9/15/2024 12:23:00 PM

Spike got his final say in a funny way, Congrats on your win

Tom Cunningham
Date: 9/15/2024 11:00:00 PM

Thank you very much Joseph, funny to the end. Tom

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 9/15/2024 9:04:00 AM

Back with Congrats on your awesome set of limericks.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 9/15/2024 10:24:00 AM

Thank you very much Andrea for your congrats and return visit. Greetings from Spain, I'm on my travels again. Hope your weekend is going well. Tom

Terry Miller

Date: 9/15/2024 7:52:00 AM

A very funny man, nothing like him these days, great limerick, congratulations

Tom Cunningham
Date: 9/15/2024 8:59:00 AM

Thank you very much Terry, glad you enjoyed it, there hasn't been another like him I loved his dark humour. Tom

Tania Kitchin

Date: 9/15/2024 7:15:00 AM

Tom, a great limerick set and story, congratulations on your first place win. -hugs.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 9/15/2024 8:57:00 AM

Thank you very much Tania, I'm happy you enjoyed it, he inspired me to write funny epitaphs. He was funny even when the Grim Reaper came knocking. Thanks too for hosting the contest. Greetings from Espania. Tom

Maria Williams

Date: 9/15/2024 5:08:00 AM

This is quite a delightful limerick Tom. I loved it - Indeed he was a very funny guy. Hugs Maria

Tom Cunningham
Date: 9/15/2024 8:55:00 AM

Thank you very much Maria, he was indeed, greetings from Spain. I'm travelling again. Hope you're keeping well. Tom

Ink Empress

Date: 9/9/2024 10:30:00 PM

Dear tom thats very insightful and how you’ve written these limericks are brilliant and seamless! I love the flow and rhymes. Im not sure if i know this person but sounds like a fun person. And to put that on his headstone, made me smile. He must have wanted to make people smile and laugh even in death, what a beautiful soul, may his soul rest in peace and love, , pleasure reading this, best wishes, sending you light always

Tom Cunningham
Date: 9/9/2024 11:19:00 PM

Thank you very much IE, I'm happy you enjoyed it, he was a very funny man, his humor was a little on the dark side but not offensive in any way, it was his idea to put that on his headstone, funny to the end. Hope your week is going well. Tom

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 9/3/2024 1:09:00 PM

I can't read the small print of the stone. It really says "I told you I was ill." So funny. Great limerick set, Tom

Duke Beaufort

Date: 9/2/2024 6:56:00 PM

Tom, OMG what a sense of humor he had! There's nothing wrong with truth...even in death. We don't have to varnish our lives for sure. Smiles!!!

Tom Cunningham
Date: 9/3/2024 12:27:00 AM

Thank you very much Duke, he was funny even in death, and his epitaph gave me the inspiration to write mine. Tom

Beryl Edmonds

Date: 9/1/2024 8:19:00 AM

Very good Tom, Spike was indeed a comical man, right to his end, the headstone says it all… Beryl

Tom Cunningham
Date: 9/1/2024 9:02:00 AM

Thank you very much Beryl, his epitaph inspired me to write many funny epitaphs of my own. Tom

Valsa George

Date: 8/30/2024 8:18:00 PM

During his life, Spike made many burst out into laughter. After his death he must be making the Heavenly halls ring with laughter. A man of humor paying tribute to another of the same kind. Great one dear Tom.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 8/30/2024 9:18:00 PM

Thank you very much Valsa, he was one of a kind, his deadpan humour couldnt be beaten. Have a great day. Tom

Emilia James

Date: 8/30/2024 1:22:00 PM

He was one of the greats in his day and still is in so many peoples memories. Harry was great too. Spike was clever and a master comedian and writer. Good luck in the contest Tom. Emilia : )

Tom Cunningham
Date: 8/30/2024 3:41:00 PM

Thank you very much Emilia, he certainly was, you don't see real comedy like that anymore. Have a great weekend. Tom

Alesia Leach

Date: 8/30/2024 9:31:00 AM

A delightful Limerick for a special comic, he would have loved it. Good luck in contest!

Tom Cunningham
Date: 8/30/2024 10:14:00 AM

Thank you very much Alesia, I'm happy you enjoyed it. It was his funny epitaph that inspired me to write some. Tom

Sara Kendrick

Date: 8/30/2024 5:53:00 AM

Good one, Tom. I once knew a man named Deacon Jones, who was sick his whole life long, skinny as a rail, feet thin as cattails, coffin now full of his lazybones. I am delighted that his family came up with a way of putting that on his headstone. Thanks for sharing this one with us. Sara K

Joe Maverick

Date: 8/29/2024 12:28:00 PM

I must say Tom this most religious poem has Really touched my un-sensibilitys..I'll go so far To say it would be a 'grave mis-take' not to pay A little homage.. To this quipparary giant. And No I didnt mis-spell that name..As it dosn't Exist, I do hope my comments cause a Spike In my visitors..Oh I'll rephrase that I believe its Dead cert.' All good regards to Mr Milligans Memory.!

Tom Cunningham
Date: 8/29/2024 1:25:00 PM

Lol at your comment Joe I'm happy that you enjoyed the humour. It was his dark epitaph that ins me to write a few myself. Have a great weekend. Tom

Sam Kauffman

Date: 8/29/2024 11:14:00 AM

Hi fives and a standing ovation, Tom! What a twist at the end of the poem! Masterfully created limerick string with inventive rhyme schemes that flow like laughter! Now Spike has a heavenly audience! Best wishes for the contest. So happy to have you back. Blessings. Over Fork Over. Have a great weekend.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 8/29/2024 1:23:00 PM

Thank you very much Sam, I'm happy you enjoyed it, I'm sure Spike would be pleased that I've honoured him. Been travelling quite a bit of late so dipping in and out of Soup. I hope that you are keeping well Over Fork Over and hope you have a fine weekend too. Tom