Trousered Ape

An exercise in presumption.

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Today is an anniversary (and my 53rd birthday).

Five years ago, today, this blog was born,
Named “Trousered Ape,” in self-directed scorn,
And launched out into cyberspace, although
It had no clear idea of where to go.
As time went by, this question was resolved,
For rapidly the blogosphere evolved:
By dozens, scores, and hundreds, blogs arose
On every side, practitioners of prose
Both eloquent and lively, each a source
Of wittily and wisely wrought discourse:
Of culture, politics, and family life;
Of movies, books, and theologic strife;
Some Helicon ascend and there make free
To dally with the Muse of poetry.
All this, I’ve learned, is far above my station:
My only gift is for versification.
I leave good writing to all those who can,
Forswear ambition to become a Man,
Pretend that Darwin’s Theory is a jape,
Write silly verses, and remain an Ape.

Posted by Bob the Ape 6:19 PM

Thursday, April 09, 2009

Background: While we were driving home a couple of students from our homeschool co-op, they brought up the word "flocci-nauci-nihili-pilification" (I had heard of it – Patrick O’Brian uses it in Master and Commander - but was not familiar with its meaning). I looked it up when we got home, to settle a dispute about its spelling (I was right), after which one thing led to another...

"Flocci-
Nauci-
Nihilipilification,"
Is a word that tickles gently in the ear –
How I love the fizzy, tingling sensation,
Of that Latinate and polysyllabic sneer.

"Flocci-
Nauci-
Nihilipilification,"
Is a word that is not often in demand.
It may not be apt for every situation,
Still, you ought to have this word at your command.

Someday,
You may
Meet some feckless fellow who is
Good for nought except to scorn or denigrate –
If you do, you’ll know that all you need to do is
Flocci-nauci-nihilipilificate.

"Flocci-
Nauci-
Nihilipilification,"
Is a word that has that extra-special beat.
If you mix it with a little syncopation,
There’s no other word could ever sound as sweet.

(It sounded pretty good after the Bride, who is musical, improvised a catchy swing melody for it.)

Posted by Bob the Ape 6:49 PM