To a Maiden Named Sue

[Brahma]

To a Maiden Named Sue

A maiden named Sue,
having nothing to do
when her housework was done,
took up yoga for fun.

"I will try not," she said,
as she stood on her head,
"to think about falling,
or the milkman come calling."

And she stayed thus inverted
(to yoga converted)
for the rest of the day,
till the light slipped away.

She was happy to stare
at her feet in the air;
to contemplate prana
and dream of nirvana.

But the press of her blood
turned her brain into mud,
and her yogic elation
to loss of sensation.

Then her eyeballs protruded
like marbles extruded;
her teeth gnashed about
till at length they fell out.

And later that night
her poor soul took fright;
bade a hasty goodbye,
and left her to die.

'Twas the milkman who said,
as he cradled Sue's head,
"The inventor of yoga
was truly an ogre."

[MorpheusSandman]

LOL! I think I like you doing comedy, Brahma! Your natural proclivity for short metrical couplets fit with that kind of tone. Have you ever read Robert Burns? I'm reading him now and you remind me a lot of him.

[Brahma]

Hello, Morpheus.

My acquaintance with Robert Burns is limited to Bonnie Doon and A Red, Red Rose. But I have a vague memory of To a Mouse, the first line at least of which seems to have adhered itself to my memory: "Wee, sleekit, cow'rin, tim'rous beastie" - or something like that.

I seem to remember having much trouble with the dialect.

So long ago!

Regards,

Brahma.

[_Shannon_]

LOL! I love it!!!

[Brahma]

Hello, Shannon.

So glad it afforded you some pleasure.

I was worried that it might have been a little gruesome for some tastes.

Regards,

Brahma.

[Jerrybaldy]

I couldn't help but think of Benny Hill doing 'Ernie, The fastest milkman in the west' and it made me smile the same. Well done.

[MorpheusSandman]

My acquaintance with Robert Burns is limited to Bonnie Doon and A Red, Red Rose. But I have a vague memory of To a Mouse, the first line at least of which seems to have adhered itself to my memory: "Wee, sleekit, cow'rin, tim'rous beastie" - or something like that.

I seem to remember having much trouble with the dialect.I know I've immensely enjoyed reading him as of late. He's really one of those poets that's much better if you read him outside on nice days, for some reason. As for the dialect, it can be a pain if you're reading it in a book, but side-by-side translations (http://www.worldburnsclub.com/poems/translations/index.htm) makes it a non-issue for me. My Father Was a Farmer (http://www.worldburnsclub.com/poems/translations/my_father_was_a_farmer.htm) is one of my favorites of his more least-known works.

[Brahma]

Hello, jerrybaldy.

Thank you for stirring my memories of Benny - the mere mention of whose name has me in the grip of nostalgia.

There never was a face like Benny's when he smiled that smile - knowing, brim-full of innuendo, ironic.

The world was an infinitely poorer place with his passing.

Thank you for reminding me of happy, Benny, times.

Regards,

Brahma.


Hello, morpheus.

Thank you for your directional pointers.

Regards,

Brahma.