July 2005: Issue 6, Volume 1
Afternoon Teaisms
Rhymes and Wits
Tea: By Roy Moxham
Thomas Garraway, 1660, Tea: It vanquith heavy dreams, easeth the brain, and strenghtheneth the memory.
Punctuation (Parenthetical)
THE LESSON
Of all the fleas that ever flew
(And flying fleas are rather few
((Because for proper flying you
(((Whether you are a flea or not)))
Need wings and things fleas have not got)) )-
(I make the further point that fleas
Are thick as these parentheses
((An illustration (((you'll agree)))
Both apt and pleasing to a fleas)) ) -
No then where were we? Let me see -
Ah, yes - We said to fly you ought
(Whether you are a flea or not)
To have some wings (yes, at least two
((At least no less that two will do
(((And fleas have something less than one
((((One less, in fact (((((or, frankly, none
((((((Which, as once more you will agree))))))
Limits the flying of a flea))))) )))) ))) )) ).
And let me add that fleas that fly
Are known as Flears. (You can see why.)
All I have said thus far is true
(If it's not clear, that's up to you.
((You'll have to learn sometime, my dear,
That what is true may not be clear
(((While what is clear may not be true
((((And you'll be wiser when you do.)))) ))) )) ).
--John Ciardi
From "Words at Play"
Willard R. Espy
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