Tuesday 21 July 2009

Off the shelf: Lear 5


Holman Hunt said this: ‘[Edward Lear] had the most unquenchable love of the humorous wherever it was found. Recognition of what was ridiculous made him a declared enemy to cant and pretension, and an entire disbeliever in posturers and apers of genius whether in mien or in the cut of the coat and affectation of manners.’
But what did he know? Pretentious git.
This limerick is unusual for Lear because the first and last lines don’t end with the same word:

There was an Old Man who supposed,
That the street door was partially closed;
But some very large rats
Ate his coat and his hats,
While that futile old gentleman dosed.

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