The Legend of the first Cam-u-el

[Heather]

This is the poem I mentioned in Terry's thread about the poem he learnt at school. A lady recited this one at Bundaberg earliler this year - very clever and a real tongue twister. She said she learnt it at school. The printed copy I have is set out differently so that rhymnes in the first and fourth lines are internal rhymes. I think it has lost some of the format when being copied - sorry about that.


The Legend Of The First Cam-u-el: An Arabian Apologue
by Arthur Guiterman

Across the sands of Syria,
Or possibly Algeria,
Or some benighted neighborhood of barrenness and drouth,
There came the Prophet Samu-u-el
Upon the Only Cam-u-el –
A bumpy, grumpy Quadruped of discontented mouth.

The atmosphere was glutinous;
The Cam-u-el was mutinous;
He dumped the pack from off his back; with
Horrid grunts and squeals
He made the desert hideous;
With strategy perfidious
He tied his neck in curlicues, he kicked his paddy heals.

Then quoth the gentle Sam-u-el,
“You rogue, I ought to lam you well!
Though zealously I’ve shielded you from every
grief and woe,
It seems, to voice a platitude,
You haven’t any gratitude.
I’d like to hear what cause you have for doing
thus and so!”

To him replied the Cam-u-el,
“I beg your pardon, Sam-u-el,
I know that I’m a Reprobate, I know that I’m a
Freak;
But, oh! This utter loneliness!
My too-distinguished Onliness!
Were there but other Cam-u-els I wouldn’t be
unique.”

The Prophet beamed beguilingly.
“Aha,” he answered, smilingly,
“You feel the need of company? I clearly under-
stand.
We’ll speedily create for you
The corresponding made for you –
Ho! Presto, change-o, dinglebat!” – he waved a
potent hand,
And lo! From out Vacuity
A second Incongruity,
To wit, a Lady Cam-u-el was born through magic
art.
Her structure anatomical,
Her form and face were comical;
She was, in short, a Cam-u-el, the other’s counter-
part.

As Spaniards gaze on Aragon,
Upon that Female Paragon
So gazed the Prophet’s Cam-u-el, that primal
Desert Ship.
A connoisseur meticulous,
He found her that ridiculous
He grinned from ear to auricle until he split his lip!

Because of his temerity
That Cam-u-el’s posterity
Must wear divided upper lips through all their
solemn lives!
A prodigy astonishing
Reproachfully admonishing
Those wicked, heartless married men who ridicule their wives.

[Neville Briggs]

That's superb Heather.

I hope everybody here notices that it is not the story that makes this poem, it is the very skilful use of language.

Poetry is made of words not ideas.

[manfredvijars]

Love it Heather thanks for digging it up and sharing. I (partially) concur with Nev, what a GREAT idea using multi-syllabic end-rhymes woven into the story ...

(just take another look at the last line in the second-last stanza, either a typo or some other stuff-up) ...

[Heather]

It's very clever and it was a great one to listen to - and she did it without fault! Very clever use of language

[Maureen K Clifford]

Good one Heather -great fun

Suspect made should me mate though - The corresponding made for you –

[Heather]

I suspect you are right Maureen. I just cut and paste from the site where it was posted..

[Terry]

Good one Heather, it would take a bit to memorize - Terry