Tymes (an homage to James Joyce)

This is a nonsense verse poem inspired by James Joyce's Finnegans Wake.

Wot tymes are a-thondrin'? 

Thar be scarbuds and rarknubs ov me heads! 

Litr'ry livs livin' in grosshats? 

Sytee froks a-flondrin' 

Ovar, undr, sedwez, en th' 

Stritwez, arvanees, and heywez! 

I gets tymes to me sorf so rarly 

En doorcymble, en th' nayt's 

So piecetrankillake that ey 

Cont immersimate that none o' 

Thars'll change. 

The sounds a-ringin' like chinglychinglechanglechonglelingle- 

Arongagongadongasongasixpence-a 

wrylowhippensoftabuttermilk! 

Nayd to by me grimlicks op in 

Th' furmery merket, just op 

In th' farristlypote o th' land, 

From whence th' ladyloves hammer 

Th' dulcimers and th' smokemen lit 

Thar pilopipes a blinklin' 

In th' nighting! 

Oy remember when we'd flimmer flammer 

Sporelayts a-twonklin' in th' brysenberry 

Ayvenin' - day flooshed oopoon me 

Flesh weth raynspets layk de 

Skeins ov sammersneks. 

Whar doonesquivel got me modness 

Inmostabull dat blonkemate 

Me hed so rippleake? 

Moooooooost oh ben 

Th' laser jic aycid die ethel maid 

En the madrashattaras.

'Twas revelled t'me in a melly flood

Drem, coolors and soonds a-skayppin'

'joompin' everyways!!

Ey wroot the litr'ry misterpayce

En drinkin', academately, usin'

The verkabullery, the gremmer, 

The spayllin! 

Slingdly 

Lovinlie slibberin 

Slippalesque 

Aloafend daktry-embrak-lization 

So...shorely ye didn't 

Misondrestand 

Me poem?

Author's Note

All grammar and spelling errors are intentional to create the "voice."

Reviews

[Rita L. Sev]

Ok, I have to say that I was chuckling aloud by the end of this read. Tried to read it out loud, laughing at myself, and impressed by what you have done here, Eric. I understand why many who attempt to read this piece either give up or don't comment - it is a challenge, but worth it! This is definitely a poem for the lovers of Joyce, and those who relish deep nonsense (not for those who relegate wit to a pun, and then go back to their angst-filled offerings). This piece may not find a wide audience, but it is wonderfully crafted and will be appreciated by a select few. :)

[Eric Pudalov]

Oh, thank you so, so much Rita!! I was getting so self-conscious about having posted this! You're probably right; it may not find a wide audience, but I could probably share it with my friends who either appreciate Joyce or have been forced to read him for school. Thank you so much again for your review, and I'll return the favor, I promise!!!

[Eric Pudalov]

Oh, and believe it or not...this does have a very loose "story," in a sense. It's from the point-of-view of an old man who's frustrated with the changing "times," and that there's no peace or tranquility because of all the new noise and technology. I'm not sure if any readers will get that from the poem, but I thought it worth saying. :-P