Diversions

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 196, 16 May 1936, Page 24

Diversions

POETS AND LIMERICKS The Victorian Director of Education (Mr. J. Mcßae) pleads for the preservation of the limerick as a medium for poetic expression, lie claims that more limericks have been written by the clergy than by any other section of the community, says “Oriel” in the Melbourne “Argus”:— Cheered the schoolmasters, hip-hip-hooray ! He’s a wise guy is Mr. Mcßae; On systems poetic His views are aesthetic — At least, so the newspapers say. No more need we wander and grope Through Milton and Shakespeare and I’ope. When, provided it’s friskay Without being risque, A limerick’s good enough dope. Geography now without tears We’ll impart to our kids —little dears! They’ll find it quite easy To learn of Zambesi, Bombay and Siam and Algiers. That there once was a monarch named Bess We can teach with the utmost success. We can say she was pally With Burleigh and Raleigh, And leave the young blighters to guess. Of course there are things we can’t tell, Say, of Charles and his little friend Nell, And they’d not give a joke room In any nice smoke-room On George as Prince Regent as well. There’s a wide field for limericks, too. In things to be seen at the zoo.; Not the gay brontosaurus— He was long, long before us— But in fauna of Wales and Peru.

But we won’t let the limerick die; Our director can tell you just why; Though he does try tq fasten The blame on the parson, I think that excuse all my eye!