Itty bitty, not very pretty,
(Unless to his mama)
Stone silent, not very witty,
But the high hop creates drama;
From the woods not the city
(At least not Yokohama)
Inspires this little ditty
From one who likes to yammah.
Copyright 2014 Brenda Davis Harsham
Note: Despite my usual inclination that a poet should never explain, for those not from New England, the “yammah” is a Bostonian pronunciation of yammer. My photograph is of a Pinetree Spurthroated Grasshopper (Melanoplus punctulatus), a rare sighting. Not only had I never seen a grasshopper like him before, my research indicated he’s rare in general. My poem is an ode to Ogden Nash, a particular favorite author of my children and I. Here is one of his poems, which I hope offering here, would not have displeased him:
The Ant
The ant has made himself illustrious
Through constant industry industrious.
So what?
Would you be calm and placid,
If you were full of formic acid?
— Ogden Nash
Ogden Nash gnashed by the mouth of the giant,
His teeth gnashed the monster for he is defiant.
A poet of renown and so often thought of as a clown,
The reviewers are the giants and his works chewed around.
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The reviewers are the giants indeed.
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Sweet! 😛
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😀
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Absolutely beautiful on all three counts. The ‘hopper, the Ogden Nash offering, and truly most of all, your rhyme to which I would take off my hat were I wearing one, but since I’m wearing two, the’re both off to you.
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Thanks! He was remarkably self-assured, and let me get very close.
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That first photo is a great detailed shot of that critter!
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Thanks! He cooperated and was very still. 🙂
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I think he is very pretty – attractive in an unusual way! 🙂 We only seem to have green ones in the UK, and they’re very small too, quite tiny sometimes. Was he a big one, or does it just look like that on the photo?
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He was about an inch long, and let me get very close to him. I’ve only seen green and brown ones before this. He is an unusual guy.
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Thanks for the fun homage to Ogden Nash, and with a lovely New England twist!
Thanks,
Vincent
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I love Ogden Nash’s poetry. I’m glad you like it, too. 🙂
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Well done Brenda, I love that guy 😀
“The cow is of bovine ilk;
One end is moo, the other is milk”
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Yes, he was awesome. 🙂
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Pretty little one!
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Thanks!
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Beautifully photographed Brenda!
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Thanks!
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Hliwana! That’s a Tiwa Indian word for Grasshopper. I think h/she is beautuful!
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Yes, handsome even. But not pretty if that makes sense? My son took me to task over it, telling me how beautiful it is. I agree, but not pretty. His legs were quite striking, like a tuxedo, such drama. I had to write a poem, but it was hard writing something worthy of him. Are you Tiwa?
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Not Tiwa but I’m a linguistic anthropologist who has studied Zuni and some other Pueblo Indian languages and cultures. Ok not pretty but pretty beautiful!
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Yes, I grant you, pretty beautiful. 🙂 I was happy he came to call. Thanks for commenting. 🙂
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What an amazingly patterned ‘coat’ your little rare grasshopper wears. I think he popped up so you could do this wonderful post and introduce me to Ogden Nash! Thank you Brenda for creating and sharing ! 🙂
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He certainly enjoyed being photographed. And Ogden Nash’s poetry is terrific. Thanks for your comment. Cheers, Brenda
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Ogden would approve!
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Yeah! I hope so! 🙂
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I love the camouflage green outfits.
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My little grasshopper lives in oak trees, apparently. I bet he would be near impossible to see on tree bark. He had come calling, though. He was waiting for me on my front porch, and he paused for pictures, just as if it was the red carpet and I was the paparazzi. Isn’t life grand? 🙂
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What a fabulous looking grasshopper. Wow! Beautiful. Fun poem…glad you gave the definition.
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I looked up Ogden Nash, and he was also from the Northeast. I thought anyone not from the Northeast might struggle with my last rhyme. I have a surprisingly international readership, and I like them bunches! 🙂
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and that rhyme has helped me to understand why ants are so tetchy 🙂
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There you go. Ogden Nash made a lot of sense in a short, rhyming way. LOL
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what a cool bug and what a cool poem )
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Thanks! My kids liked it. LOL Always a good benchmark. 🙂
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Love this.
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Thanks!!
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What an exciting sighting! The masses may find him tatty, but to me he seems quite natty, and I know Nash would agree! ^_^
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LOL He is pleased to be admired, and I’m so pleased you were inspired, 🙂 Thanks for commenting! Warmly, Brenda
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I love Ogden Nash… nobody talks about him anymore…. good post!
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Glad you like it. 🙂
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I did.
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