A poem is often not what it seems on the page. It looks harmless enough ... until you try to recite it. Sure, any poem is recitable if the reader is given enough time and practice. But what happens when you aren't given any at all, and the poem happens to be a tongue-twister or a nonsense verse of the worst kind? Just how articulate are you on your feet? Do you think you could recite at first sight? Let's see how our readers do.
________________________________________
Reader 1
Susan shineth shoes and socks,
Socks and shoes shineth Susan,
She ceaseth shining shoes and socks,
For socks and shoes shock Susan.
________________________________________
Reader 2
"A Tetrastich in the Lanternish Language"
by Francois Rabelais (1494-1553)
Briszmarg dalgotbrick nubstzne zos,
Isbquebsz prusq: albok crinqs zacbac.
Mizbe dilbarskz morp nipp stancz bos,
Strombtz, Panurge, walmap quost gruszbac.
_______________________________________
Reader 3
"[Fragment of a Song]"
by Lewis Carroll (1832-1898)
Lorenzo dwelt at Heighington,
(Hys cote was made of Dimity,)
Least-ways yf not exactly there,
Yet yn yt's close proximity.
Hee called on mee -- hee stayed to tee --
Yet not a word hee ut--tered,
Untyl I sayd, 'D'ye lyke your bread
Dry?' and hee answered 'But--tered.'
Chorus:
Noodle dumb
Has a noodle-head,
I hate such noodles, I do.
_______________________________________
Reader 4
You can have --
Fried fresh fish,
Fish fried fresh,
Fresh fried fish,
Fresh fish fried,
Or fish fresh fried.
_______________________________________
Reader 5
Bill had a bill-board,
Bill also had a board bill.
The board bill bored Bill,
So Bill sold the bill-board
To pay his board bill.
The board no longer bored Bill.
________________________________________
Sources:
1. The Faber Book of Nonsense Verse. ed. Geoffrey Grigson. Boston: Faber and Faber, 1979.
2. Anthology of British Tongue-Twisters. ed. Ken Parkin. New York: Samuel French, 1969.
