"The time has come," the Walrus said,

[OldGreyEagle]

To talk of many things:

Of shoes--and ships--and sealing-wax--

Of cabbages--and kings--

And why the sea is boiling hot--

And whether pigs have wings.

 

And what to do when disagreements occur. As we prove virtually daily, there are few things that we all agree on, but rational people can disagree by reasoned arguments and not by dismissing people as leftist liberals, or conservatives, or other epithet.

 

Perhaps when a poster starts to be disagreeable, less attention should be placed on them, not more

 

 

 

 

 

[scoutmom]

Bravo, OGE. I second that.

[SR540Beaver]

Spot on!

[evmori]

OGE,

Is that from a poem the Walrus & (can't remember the name)?

 

Ed Mori

Troop 1

1 Peter 4:10

[OldGreyEagle]

http://www.jabberwocky.com/carroll/walrus.html

 

The Walrus and The Carpenter

 

I consider it an honor to offer this link to Ed and to all

[evmori]

I have this poem in a book I read when I was a little kid! It was "The Golden Book of Poetry". I still have it ! I always loved that book! Thanks OGE for the memory!

 

Ed Mori

Troop 1

1 Peter 4:10

[Fat Old Guy]

Speak roughly to your little boy

And beat him when he sneezes

For he can thoroughly enjoy

the pepper when he pleases.

[boleta]

The tortoise lives twist plated decks

 which practically conceals its sex.

I think it clever of the turtle

in such a fix to be so fertile.

Ogden Nash

[OneHour]

Go first in the world, go forth with your fears

Remember a price must be paid

Be always too soon, be never too fast

At the time when all bets must be laid

Beware of the darkness, be kind to your children

Remember the woman who waits

And the house you live in will never fall down

If you pity the stranger who stands at your gate

When youre caught by the gale and you're full under sail

Beware of the dangers below

And the song that you sing should not be too sad

And be sure not to sing it too slow

Be calm in the face of all common disgraces

And know what theyre doing it for

And the house you live in will never fall down

If you pity the stranger who stands at your door

 

When youre out on the road and feelin quite lost

Consider the burden of fame

And he who is wise will not criticize

When other men fail at the game

Beware of strange faces and dark dingy places

Be careful while bending the law

And the house you live in will never fall down

If you pity the stranger who stands at your door

 

When youre down in the dumps and not ready to deal

Decide what it is that you need

Is it money or love, is it learnin to live

Or is it the mouth you must feed

Be known as a man who will always be candid

On questions that do not relate

And the house you live in will never fall down

If you pity the stranger who stands at your gate

And the house you live in will never fall down

If you pity the stranger who stands at your gate

 

 

Gordon Lightfoot

[dsteele]

As long as we're exchanging poetry, I thought I'd toss this one out.

 

It's from "Something Big Has Been Here" by Jack Prelutsky.

 

I hope Mr. Prelutsky doesn't take offense. Indeed, I recommend purchasing this body of work. It's one kids and adults can both enjoy at bed time:

 

I MET A RAT OF CULTURE

 

I met a rat of culture

who was elegantly dressed

in a pair of velvet trousers

and a silver-buttoned vest,

he related anciwent proverbs

and recited poetry,

he spoke a dozen languages,

eleven more than me.

 

The rat was perspicacious,

and had cogent things to say

on bionics, economics,

hydroponics, and ballet,

he instructed me in sculpture,

he shed light on keeping bees,

then he painted an acrylic

of an abstract view of cheese.

 

He had circled the equator,

he had visited the poles,

he extolled the art of sailing

while he baked assorted rolls,

he wove a woolen carpet

and he shaped a porcelain pot,

then he sang an operetta

while he danced a slow gavotte.

 

He was versed in aviation,

an authority on trains,

all of botany and baseball

were contained within his brains,

he knew chemistry and physics,

he had taught himself to sew,

to myu knowledge there was nothing

that the rodent didn't know.

 

He was vastly more accomplished

than the billions of his kin,

he performed a brief sonata

on a tiny violin,

but he squealed and promptly vanished

at the entrance of my cat,

for despite his erudition,

he was nothing but a rat.

 

 

 

Editorial -- if this poem makes you think of someone, don't blame me.

 

Unc.

[boleta]

When I got mad and hit my child

"for his own good," I reconciled,

And then, I realized my plight...

Today I taught my child to fight.

 

When interrupted by the phone,

I said, "Tell them I'm not at home."

And then I thought, and had to sigh...

Today, I taught my child to lie.

 

I told the tax man what I made,

Forgetting cash that I was paid;

And then I blushed at this sad feat...

Today I taught my child to cheat.

 

I smugly copied a cassette,

To keep me free of one more debt.

But now the bills of shame must peal...

Today I taught my child to steal.

 

Today I cursed another race.

Oh God, protect what I debase,

For now, I fear it is too late.

Today, I taught my child to hate.

 

By my example, children learn

That I must lead in life's sojourn

In such a way that they are led

By what is done, not what is said.

 

Today, I gave my child his due

By praises of him instead of rue.

And now I have begun my guide:

Today, I gave my child his pride.

 

I now have reconciled and paid

To IRS on all I made.

And now I know that this dear youth

Today has learned from me, of truth.

 

The alms I give are not for show,

And yet, this child must surely know

That charity is worth the price;

Today, he saw my sacrifice.

 

I clasp within a warm embrace

My neighbor of another race

The great commandment from above.

Today, I taught my child to love.

 

Someday, my child must face alone

This world of fearsome undertone,

But I have blazed a sure pathway:

Today, I taught my child ... to pray.

 

Henry Matthew Ward

 

[evmori]

 

A horse is a horse

Of course of course

And no one can talk to a horse of course

Unless the name of the talking horse

Is the famous Mr. Ed

 

Go right to the source and ask the horse

He'll give you the answer that you endorse

He's always on a steady course

The famous Mr. Ed