Oxily Hoxily Editor Christopher Dove into limericks. It all takes time.
Lexicographical Format was chosen. The English of Oxford is Rendered in rhyme.This message has been edited. Last edited by: jo,
August 21, 2004, 05:08
Badger
Hello All!
My first (ever!) DD...
Muddling, Juggling, Man and Neanderthal, Have struggled to fathom Sacred Feminine Wooden clubs and posh pubs, Have failed to impress her Capitulatory, He says, “You win!”
Any views expressed or implied are not necessarily those of the author!
Badger.
August 21, 2004, 05:46
Richard English
Clanishly, manishly Unknowing masculines Struggle in vain Just to understand dames
Misunderstandingly Think they speak English But only a woman Knows their linguistic games.
Richard English
August 21, 2004, 07:37
Cat
Well done and welcome, Badger! It's nervewracking posting your first ever DD somewhere public, isn't it?
I think you'll find we women aren't that difficult to understand; we just require understanding.
(Now, what's the betting that 90% of the women here instantly get it, while a similar number of men don't? )
August 21, 2004, 07:41
Richard English
Quote "...Now, what's the betting that 90% of the women here instantly get it, while a similar number of men don't?..."
Get what?
Richard English
August 21, 2004, 07:50
Cat
Exactly.
August 21, 2004, 07:54
Richard English
Furrily, purrily Cat from the Black Country Stands up for women As surely she should.
We male exgratiates Incomprehendingly Try still to understand - If only we could.
Richard English
August 21, 2004, 14:04
Cat
Fabulous, Richard! I love it
August 21, 2004, 14:14
Kalleh
Welcome, Badger! Might you be from my home state, the Badger state?
Double dactyls aren't easy, but they sure are fun!
P.S. I got it Cat!
August 21, 2004, 14:28
BobHale
quote:Originally posted by Richard English: Furrily, purrily Cat from the Black Country Stands up for women As surely she should.
We male exgratiates Incomprehendingly Try still to understand - If only we could.
UNcomprehendingly, surely? And what's an "exgratiate", I couldn't find it in onelook though from the formation I'd have to surmise it's someone who receives payment (ex gratia) where no obligation exists which doesn't sound at all what you mean. Sorry to be so picky.
"No man but a blockhead ever wrote except for money." Samuel Johnson.
August 21, 2004, 14:42
Richard English
Un? In? I'm not sure and am happy to be corrected.
Exgratiate is a made up word - supposed to be the opposite of ingratiate. In other words, one who's not "in the club".
Two neoligisms in one double dactyl? Is this a record?
Richard English
August 21, 2004, 16:42
jerry thomas
Brinkery shrinkery Sigmund Freud's followers Probe the effects of the Wordcrafter's art.
Thus we are learning that Psychoanalysis Pulls us together, or Tears us apart.This message has been edited. Last edited by: jerry thomas,
August 21, 2004, 20:52
Kalleh
Great, Jerry!
I am glad to see you keeping Richard honest, Bob.
August 22, 2004, 02:50
Badger
Thanks for the welcome!
Kalleh - No, not from the Badger state, just the UK!
Cat - Hoping to fall into the 10%, but the sci-fi theme of this next one, might suggest the other 90!
Foolishly, Ghoulishly, Anakin Skywalker, Took his light sabre from Light side to Dark,
Known later as Vader, His son fell his caper, Paterfamilias, Losing his spark!
Not quite as happy with this one, suggestions?
Badger.
August 22, 2004, 12:14
Kalleh
Well, Badger, several of us have been doing these for awhile, so I hate to be too hard on newbies. My first ones were atrocious. It is called a double dactyl so I am very religious about the dactyl meter, which is dum dah dah dum dah dah. Lines 1,2,3, 5, 6, 7, have that meter, while lines 4 and 8 should have the meter of dum dah dah dum, and lines 4 and 8 should rhyme.
Now, in yours, the first four lines, your 6-syllable word, and the 8th line are great! Lines 5, 6 aren't quite the right rhythm. Can anyone help him?
The UK??? Wow, we have so many from the UK now! From what part of the UK?
On the OEDILF site, Virge asked for double dactyls about OEDILF, so here is a particularly timely one:
Higgledy Piggledy Post's Invitational Puzzle this week is a- Bout CJ's site.
Named "Limerixicon," Praises his project, and, Enthusiastically, Asks that you write!
Be sure to send your winning limerick to the Washington Post Style Invitational this week.
Who knows, you may win! I would just love the winner to be one of our posting members. In fact, I am offering a special prize if the winner is a poster from wordcraft community. So...go to it, guys! This message has been edited. Last edited by: Kalleh,
August 22, 2004, 15:24
Cat
Badger, you are, officially, a PIG!
A little background: I've just come back from a quiz at a local pub, to which I had invited Karl and two other friends. Halfway through the night, one of them turned to me and said "Did you like the double dactyl?" Naturally I played it cool and answered in the affirmative while scanning my brain to try and work out what he was talking about, when it slowly dawned on me that I was talking to Badger himself. I HAD BEEN TRICKED!!! Oooh!!!
So in response to your question, Kalleh, Badger lives in the Midlands, like me, Karl and Bob. Not a native, though...
Bring on the next DD, Badger - I'm curious as to how this one will turn out!
August 22, 2004, 15:36
Kalleh
Well, Bob has indirectly brought in a lot of you from the Midlands! Now, where is Badger originally from?
August 22, 2004, 16:03
Cat
Yes Kalleh - I'll have to make sure he meets them all, since we have him to thank for leading me (and therefore Karl, Pazuzu & Badger) here! I'm working on several others too (at least one has already lurked), so fingers crossed that my powers of persuasion continue to work...
August 22, 2004, 23:41
Badger
quote:Originally posted by Cat: Badger, you are, officially, a PIG!
So shameless a friend To be so rude! Time for something more macabre, From the cloven hoofed!
Murderer, murderer, Cardiac-glycoside's Baffling chemistry, Come to your aid,
To flicker the ticker, Pharmacologically; Digoxin ensures that, Beats are delayed!
Badger.
August 23, 2004, 03:39
Richard English
Centrally, mentally Those from the Black Country Do love our language That much is clear.
One thing is plain to me Axiomatically It's either the region Or else it's the beer.
Richard English
August 23, 2004, 09:06
Kalleh
Both of yours, with a few nips & tucks here and there , are good! I agree, Richard, about the high quality of posters from the Black Country (called that because?....)
I must ask, Badger, are you from the medical field? I would love another health care colleague here!
August 23, 2004, 10:00
Badger
Guilty as charged!
I'm a hospital based pharmacist. Interestingly, when I work as a resident in Derby I did a two week placement at UIC Hospital in Chicago!
Bizarrely linked to my DD, both hospitals have had self inflicted cases of digoxin poisoning, both little old ladies, one fell victim to homemade foxglove cookies, the other to foxglove tea!
(To those outside the medical professions - foxglove is in the spp. digitalis from which digoxin is made.)
When the foxglove cookie lady was back on her feet she brought in a tin of cookies to say thank you, but not one got eaten!
Badger
August 23, 2004, 11:49
Cat
Why would anyone put foxgloves in cookies or tea??? And how did these little old ladies manage to stay alive for so long, being such a danger to themselves?
Anyway, here's a DD Karl & I collaborated on that we're entering in a Medusa poem competition (we'll let you know if we get anywhere). With thanks to Bob for the DD word - if it doesn't exist then it should! Spot the puns :
Medusa Sedusa, Snake-headed Gorgon girl, Eyes from which one look could Kill you stone dead.
Perseus, with knowledge Epiphaniacal, Mirrored her cunning and Chopped off her head.
BTW Kalleh, the Black Country is apparently so called because it used to be a mining community. I've heard that explanation many times, but don't know how much truth there is in it - there might be other reasons too.
August 23, 2004, 13:27
Pazuzu
This one may allude to my background.
------------- the Black Country noun
1. The industrialized West Midlands region of England, centred on Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire.
Etymology: 19c: from the smoke and grime produced by the heavy industries.This message has been edited. Last edited by: Pazuzu,
August 23, 2004, 14:59
Kalleh
The cleverness of the double dactyl is important, along with a really perfect 6 syllable word.
However, I am a stickler for that double dactyl rhythm, Cat. It is one thing that sometimes is off a bit, and I think some people don't care as much as I do. So, I hope I don't offend, but I am going to point out a few areas in need of "nips and tucks."
Always think dum dah dah dum dah dah (in lines 1,2,3,5,6,7) and dum dah dah dum in lines 4 and 8.
For example, in Badger's great digoxin DD (BTW, Badger, I am a nurse, and we in the U.S. have lots of patients with digoxin toxicity, though usually because of other reasons.):
"To flicker the ticker" or "Digoxin ensures that" don't have that DD rhythm, though I am sure it could easily be revised. The rest of it is great, though!
In Richard's, "Do love our language" is only 5 syllables; "It's either the region" isn't quite the right rhythm, and "Or else it's the beer" has 5 syllables, not 4. However, again the rest is wonderful, and it is so clever.
Now, Cat, that brings us to yours for the contest. I have to say, I do love it, and I especially love Bob's word! Now, there is one little suggestion about rhythm, and that is: "Perseus, with knowledge" isn't quite right. Could you change it to "Knowledge of Perseus?" Would that still work? Also, do you Brits pronounce "mirrored" with 2 syllables, as "mir- rored?" If so, that works. I tend to say it with 1 syllable, and then it doesn't work.
With Paz's, is "tetrabranchiata" pronounced, tet-ra-branch-i-a-ta?
I know, I am such a perfectionist with these! It does tend to limit my creativity, I think.
We have some real budding talent!
August 23, 2004, 15:18
Pazuzu
I think you got me there Kalleh. My word is pronounced \Tet`ra*bran`chi*a"ta\, so I think the emphasis is Tet-RA-bran-CHI-a-ta?
Back to the drawing board. At least I'm nearer the correct form than last time.
August 23, 2004, 15:54
Cat
Constructive criticism never offends me, Kalleh, although I'm curious as to why you addressed the second paragraph specifically to me when you then hardly criticized our DD at all! (not that I'm complaining )
Onto the suggestions you made: I agree that "Knowledge of Perseus" trips off the tongue much better than our original (which to a Brit tongue still has the right stresses: Per-se-us with know-ledge). The thing is that it then creates problems for lines 7 & 8, as "knowledge", rather than Perseus, becomes the subject of the following actions (mirroring and chopping) - and I like those too much to change them!
You're right about "mirrored" being a 2-syllable word over here ("mir-rud" is the best way I can describe its pronunciation without the benefits of phonetic symbols). I've been trying to pronounce it with just one, and it's really hard!
Oh, and in the first line, the reader just has to pretend that the stress in both words actually falls on the first syllable (it was the only way we could fit Medusa's name in - rather an important factor as the poem had to be about her ).
Incidentally, does anyone know of a resource of DD words? That's what really stumps me: finding a word that's actually relevant. The names can be hard too, but it's the words that often stop me in my tracks. I'm compiling a list that I add to whenever one springs to mind (or, more often, when one comes up unintentionally during a conversation, stopping me in my tracks as I say "Ooh! That's a DD word! Let me write that down!"). My list's not the longest in the world though, and needs feeding.
August 23, 2004, 19:26
Hic et ubique
Cat: Incidentally, does anyone know of a resource of DD words?
Kalleh, although I'm curious as to why you addressed the second paragraph specifically to me when you then hardly criticized our DD at all! (not that I'm complaining )
Cat, I was merely addressing you because you were entering yours in a contest...so I thought you were ratcheting it up a level!
As for "mirrored," I pronounce it (probably wrongly!) "meered." I remember when I wrote a DD once, Bob asked about my word "world." I pronounce it as "were-uld," but he pronounces it as one syllable, thus throwing the whole meter off. In fact, when we visited him in England, he really does pronounce it with one syllable. For double dactyls (or limericks), those pronunciations across cultures can be a killer!
August 24, 2004, 10:29
Kalleh
Trumpety, Trumpety England's Elizabeth, Loved by the British, re- Spected here too.
Yet, we Americans, Unmitigatedly, Don't understand all the Hullabaloo!
August 24, 2004, 11:17
Kalleh
For those of you who are new here, every so often I develop a case of double dactylitis, and I believe I detect the symptoms (Badger, would a little foxglove help? ). Whenever I hear a 3-syllable dactyl, I race for pen and paper! Today, walking into a meeting someone said she was reading a book on Monica Lewinsky. "Monica," I thought. Hmmm, and "Hillary." Here it is:
Smokily Dopily Monica, Hillary, Bill's little concubines, Not much alike.
H. is a senator, M.'s making money, though, Authoritatively, Bill was a tyke.
[I had a much funnier one using the word "dyke," but when the dictionary called it "offensive," I decided to change it.]
I still have a special place in my heart for the "fourple-dactyl" paradichloroaminobenzaldehyde, which if repeated ad nauseam will completely fill the music of The Irish Washerwoman. (As will any eight consecutive double-dactyls, I s'pose.)
August 24, 2004, 14:41
Cat
Wow Hic - that's fantastic! Thank you!
Names are difficult too - I've got your list from a previous thread, which is really helpful - but at least you can take more liberties with names...
*** Which reminds me: going off-subject ever so slightly, could somebody recommend a good rhyming dictionary? I've managed without up until now, but now I'm writing more verse, it'd be a good tool to have. ***
Where was I? Ah yes, I love your two DDs, Kalleh! I'm especially curious to know what your first, 'offensive' one was...
As for pronunciation, I have heard "mirrored" pronounced "meerd" (and "mirror" "meer") several times before in films, but I still can't quite copy the sound - or rather I can, but it still sounds like two syllables to me. I find it really fascinating how US and UK (and Antipodean) pronunciations can be so subtley different that we don't really notice that much until we write something and then find out it doesn't scan across the pond. For example, when I read the DD with the name "Charles" in it, on the first couple of readings I just couldn't get it to scan , until I remembered that some (all?) Americans pronounce it with two syllables - something like "Char-uls" - whereas we Brits pronounce it with one: just like "world". I said it with a (very bad ) American accent, and bingo! It scanned perfectly. And yet, before then, I'd just accepted the alternative pronunciation without giving much thought to it, and to how it might affect certain writing.
I'm waffling now, so I'll stop there.
August 24, 2004, 14:58
Kalleh
I'm especially curious to know what your first, 'offensive' one was...
Well, she asked, right?
Second verse:
H. is a senator, M.'s not so famous, though Nymphomaniacally, Neither's a dyke!
August 24, 2004, 16:49
Kalleh
I still have a special place in my heart for the "fourple-dactyl" paradichloroaminobenzaldehyde
Now, Hic, how about a list of fourple-dactyls?
Badger, I bet you can write a really good double dactyl with Hab's fourple-dactyl!
How about this one in response to some of the sexist ones here:
Hoitily Toitily Etiquette Emily Writes about manners like She's mother hen.
Now there's a new Post, and Peter's his name, writing, Oxymoronically, 'Manners for Men.'
Cat, Shu and I adore our "Whitfield's University Rhyming Dictionary," by Jane Shaw Whitfield and Edited by Frances Stillman (1951 Harper and Row). We think it is the best of anything we've seen. Ours is just really old, and I don't know if it is available. When I am not home, I use the online Rhymezone, though it could be better.This message has been edited. Last edited by: Kalleh,
Build a man a fire and he's warm for a day. Set a man on fire and he's warm for the rest of his life.
August 26, 2004, 09:59
Badger
quote:Badger, I bet you can write a really good double dactyl with Hab's fourple-dactyl!
I tried, but I couldn't find a medical use for it so I got a bit stuck! Sorry....
Badger
August 26, 2004, 10:16
jo
Higgeldy Piggeldy Kalleh the Wordcrafter Called for a DD of Epic design.
Paradichloroa- minobenzaldehyde Calls for a word skill much Greater than mine.
August 26, 2004, 11:37
jerry thomas
One-word comment, Jo.
¡Bravo-bravísimo!
~~~ jerry (Pardon my Spanish!)
August 26, 2004, 12:07
jerry thomas
Higgledy Piggledy Farmers of Iowa, In between farming and poetry torn,
Witness emergence of Middens Maid Josephine Whose double dactyls are Taller than corn!
August 27, 2004, 16:14
Chris Doyle
Wow, a double dactyl forum!
Here are a couple I wrote 20 years ago:
Barristry-Barrettry Browning, Elizabeth, Ponders in court as the Evidence mounts.
Called to the stand, she asks Jurisprudentially, “How do I plead? Let me Weigh all the counts.”
Flappity clappity August von Wassermann Bacteriologist. Germany’s best.
Extracurricular Heterosexual. (Overpromiscuous.) Flunked his own test.
August 27, 2004, 17:29
Hic et ubique
To Chris: I am in awe. Those are glittering gems.
Quote: "Germany’s best ... overpromiscuous" Would that be a matter of (ahem) Deutschlander uber alles?"
August 27, 2004, 18:09
Chris Doyle
Thanks, uh, hic. I've written about fifty double dactyls that have appeared over the years in the New York Magazine Competition, Omni Magazine, Science Digest, the Washington Post (Style Invitational), and the Toronto Globe and Mail. I'll post a couple of them every now and then in this forum.
August 27, 2004, 18:47
jerry thomas
Welcome to the WordCraft Community, Chris.
You are obviously skilled at producing outstanding Double Dactyls. We're looking forward with pleasure to seeing more of your work.
If you have any questions about the Community, don't hesitate to call upon a Flight Attendant.
August 27, 2004, 20:11
jo
Welcome indeed, Chris.
I'm intimidated. But I still love to try writing Double Dactyls
August 27, 2004, 20:27
jo
Slithery Fithery Jonathan Emerson Studies the beasties that Crawl on the ground.
Rhynchocephalian, herpetological. Lizards and snakes in his Labs do abound.
August 27, 2004, 20:33
tinman
quote:Originally posted by Chris Doyle: Flappity clappity August von Wassermann Bacteriologist. Germany’s best.
Extracurricular Heterosexual. (Overpromiscuous.) Flunked his own test.
Brilliant! I don't know a thing about double dactyls, but even I can recognize and appreciate the impeccable meter and wit in this poem.
Tinman
August 27, 2004, 21:01
Kalleh
Welcome to our forum, Chris!
Those DDs are exquisite. We're impatiently waiting for more!
August 27, 2004, 21:37
Chris Doyle
Thanks to all for the kind words! Here are four more from the now defunct New York Magazine Competition. I’ve added the pseudonyms that appeared with them. (The two double dactyls I posted earlier were published in my own name, the first in Omni in 1980, the second in NYM in 1981.) NYM officially permitted only one entry per person, but the editor gave me (and probably others) a dispensation.
Debbie and Inger were co-workers at GAO and DoD, respectively. Louise Jackson is/was my mother (maiden name). Joan was the fiancée of my Deputy at DoD. Enjoy!
Jiggery pokery Clifford, Lord Chatterley. Cuckold and invalid, Easy to con.
Nightly his lady’s with Mellors the gamekeeper Unexpurgatedly Getting it on.
Debbie Bennett, NYC 1989 New York Magazine
Higgledy piggledy Dr. Ruth Westheimer Offers these sexual Words to the wise:
“Men must remember that Erotogenesis Isn’t as matter of Genital size.”
Inger Pettygrove, Charlottesville, VA 1997 New York Magazine
Higgledy piggledy Little Red Riding Hood Skips to a fate that she Doesn’t deserve.
Lying ahead is an Anthropophagical Wolf for whom Grandma was Just an hors d’oeuvre.
Louise Jackson, Fall River, MA 1989 New York Magazine
Tippeca grippeca William H. Harrison White House inhabitant, Briefest to date.
Sworn into office with Bronchopneumonia. Thirty days later was Lying in state.
Joan Ruttenberg, Rockville, MD 1997 New York Magazine
August 28, 2004, 09:45
jo
Treasurely Measurely, Ingrid the Viking Maid Watched as her Svenska sailed Off, brave and bold.
Lindesfarm met him with Inhospitality. Nevertheless he came Back with the gold.