"Carmen Possum" is a poem that I saw a long time ago and then lost track of. I searched in vain on the Web several times, remembering only the first line; now I've found a photocopy, and I would have typed it in (I don't have OCR software), but I have now found it on the Web as well.
This version of the text is borrowed from North Carolina, with the exception that I have corrected one typo.
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The Nox was lit by lux of Luna And 'twas a nox most opportuna To catch a possum or a coona; For nix was scattered o'er this mundus, A shallow nix, et non profundus. On sic a nox with canis unus. Two boys went out to hunt for coonus. The corpus of this bonus canis Was full as long as octo span is But brevior legs had canis never Quam bad hic dog; et bonus clever. Some used to say, in stultum jocum Quod a field was too small locum For sic a dog to make a turnus Circum self from stem to sternus Unis canis, duo puer, Nunquam braver, nunquam truer Quam hoc trio nunquam fuit If there was I never knew it. This bonus dog had one bad habit. Amabat much to tree a rabbit, Amabat plus to chase a rattus, Amabat bene tree a cattus. But on this nixy moonlight night This old canus did just right. Nunquam treed a starving rattus, Nunquam chased a starving cattus, But succurrit on intentus On the track and on the scentum Till he trees a possum strongum In a hollow trunkum longum Loud he barked an horrid bellum Seemed on terra vehit pellum Quickly ran the duo puer Mors of possum to secure Quam venerit, one began To chop away like quisque man Soon the axe went through the truncum Soon he hit it all kerchunkum Combat deepens, on ye braves! |
Canis, pueri et staves As his powers non longius carry Possum potest, non pugnare On the nix his corpus lieth Down to Hades spirit flieth Joyful pueri, canis bonus, Think him dead as any stonus Now they seek their pater's domo Feeling proud as any homo Knowing, certe, they will blossom Into heroes, when with possum They arrive, narrabunt story Plenus blood et plenior glory Pompey, David, Samson, Caesar Cyrus, Black Hawk, Shalmanezer! Tell me where est now the gloria Where the honors of victoria? Nunc a domum narrent story Plenus sanguine, tragic, gory Pater praiseth, likewise mater Wonders greatly younger frater Possum leave they on the mundus Go themselves to sleep profundus Somniunt possums slain in battle Strong as ursae, large as cattle When nox gives way to lux of morning Albam terram much adorning Up they jump to see the varmen Of the which this is the carmen Lo! possum est resurrectum Ecce pueri dejectum Ne relinquit back behind him Et the pueri never find him Cruel possum! bestia vilest How the pueros thou beguiles Pueri think non plus of Caesar Go ad Orcum, Shalmanezer Take your laurels, cum the honor Since ista possum is a goner! -- Anonymous
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Evolution is another poem I saw and then lost, and
searched for in vain on the Web. This one actually
has an author: Langdon Smith. Time being what it is,
the situation has improved, and you can now find it
in various places on the Web, including
The Poets' Corner. I do not, unfortunately, know
when it was first published.
If I come upon any other little weirdnesses I'll
post them here, and if you want to suggest any please
feel free to use the pseudo-mailto below.
Pseudo-mailto: jon (at) bazilians (you know) org
Last modified: Tue Aug 24 20:20:52 PDT 1999