MAY 7, wordplay maps: sister-cities anagrams (13-15)

Keep more to yourself for a while, wash your hands frequently, remember to laugh on occasion, and stay well!

MAY 6, magical canal palindromes: 'A man, a plan, ... Suez'

You can become an expert fan of our wordplay concoction 'magical palindromes' by reviewing the explanatory material found in ancient days on our full-service blog "Edifying Nonsense" HERE; then, you could check how we applied this technique to 'canal palindromes' by viewing this more recent post.

MAY 5, American satire: pardoning 'Sheriff Joe'

a) reprise

Authors' Note:   “Sheriff Joe" Arpaio, a former official of Maricopa County, Arizona, had a long flamboyant career characterized by legal actions against colleagues, heavy-handed treatment of suspects and prisoners, and allegations of massive misuse of funds. The ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) eventually brought suit against him for civil rights violations, and after refusing to comply, he was finally convicted of contempt of court.

 

   As an octogenarian, Arpaio had become a political friend and outspoken advocate of Donald Trump, who pardoned his criminal offence in August 2017, prior to the imposition of a sentence.

We hope that you enjoyed this verse. You can find 30 more on this topic in 5 collections on our full-service blog 'Edifying Nonsense'. Click HERE to start! 

MAY 4, limerick variations: the multi-verse universe

Authors' Note:   The authors can box themselves into writing single defining limericks in the standard format used at OEDILF, the online humor dictionary, and have done so several hundred times. However, they delight in multi-verse limericks which provide a richer space for development of plot lines, contrasts and examples. Currently (April 2023), Giorgio’s ‘Author's Showcase' at the OEDILF website displays 80+ multi-verse entries.  

You can review our entire collection of poems on the topic of "Limerick Variations" as compiled on our more encyclopedic blog "Edifying Nonsense"; click HERE.         

   

MAY 3, wordplay maps: new world palindromes (#17,#18)

You can view the entire collection of these 50 wordplay maps, by accessing the collection 'Tourists Palindromic Guides: The Americas'. Start by clicking HERE! 

MAY 2, savoir-faire: French loanwords

Authors' Note:

 à propos: in regard

outré: inappropriately eccentric in behaviour or appearance, or exceeding the limits of propriety

sans doute (sahn DOOT): certainly, without doubt

paraph (PA-ruhf): confirmatory mark after a signature, derived more remotely from the French term paraphe

nonpareil: a paragon, one who has no equal

Although the word nonpareil has been used in English, often pronounced as non-pah-REHL, since the 16th century, one must adopt the snobbier French pronunciation (non-pah-RAY) for the verse to rhyme.

Despite its status as a longstanding valuable English descriptor, unique retains a Gallic sound, which is frankly ... unique. 

 You can review verses on this topic in a wider context on our full-service blog 'Edifying Nonsense'. Check the post 'Vers Francais: Savoir-Faire' by clicking HERE. 

MAY 1, pandemic poetry: HB to me (birthday confinement)

TO ENLARGE any slide or stand-alone photo on this blog, just click on it. To reverse the process, and return to this standard view, find the little 'x' in the upper right corner of the black field and click there.

Keep more to yourself for a while, wash your hands frequently, remember to laugh on occasion, and stay well!

The verse above sounds pretty depressive, but hold on!

Here is some uplifting inspirational birthday-poetry kindly contributed by the Royal Oak Trio ! 

 You can review these illustrated verses in a wider context by proceeding to 'Pandemic Poetry' on the full-service blog "Edifying Nonsense".

APR 30, exotic destination: Nome, Alaska

 

Other verses about 'Exotic Travel Destinations' can be found on our blog 'Edifying Nonsense'. Click HERE.

APR 29, American satire: results of DT's first impeachment trial (birds'-eye view)

 Reprise, originally posted February 9 and 10, 2020.

Authors' Note: Readers might want to check out prior posts, including that of Feb 9, entitled "Anagrammatic tribute to a Senator", and those of January 1, 9, 10 and 11, dealing with great egrets. The photos of birds were obtained from Giorgio Coniglio's personal collection, whereas those of political leaders were obtained from readily available online sources.

We hope that you enjoyed this playful photo-art. You can find 30 more submissions, mostly poetic on this topic in 5 collections on our full-service blog 'Edifying Nonsense'. Click HERE to start! 

APR 28, insects: mosquitoes

You can review Giorgio's other verses about pesty and occasionally beneficial insects, as  collected in 'Buzzwords: Verses about Insects' on the full-service blog "Edifying Nonsense". Click HERE.

APR 27, photo-collage: chainsaw sculpture

Recently sighted in our immediate neighborhood ...

APR 26, trees: gnarling

TO ENLARGE any slide or stand-alone photo on this blog, just click on it. To reverse the process, and return to this standard view, find the little 'x' in the upper right corner of the black field and click there.

You can review these illustrated verses in a wider context by proceeding to 'Uprooted Verse: 'Poems about Trees' on the full-service blog "Edifying Nonsense". 

APR 25, Carolina lowcountry: further spring excursions

Keep more to yourself for a while, wash your hands frequently, remember to laugh on occasion, and stay well!

mallard drake

mute swan, Middleton Place

a green anole;
one of E.T.'s relations?

cycling under Spanish moss

woodstork near TV2 pond

APR 24, scopes of medicine: endoscopic spectrum

Authors' Note: 

Uro: medical jargon for 'urologist'

scope: (jargon, as here) in modern usage, a camera with flexible fiberoptic cable to visualize internal viscera; abbreviated from endoscope

   This verse deals with endoscopic procedures that use flexible fiberoptic devices to inspect and sometimes to biopsy or to treat the lining of various hollow body organs (viscera). Recently, as  such instruments have become more technically sophisticated and widely used, these procedures have expanded their role and their accuracy in specialty medical practice. Advanced training is required for practitioners to acquire expertise. In addition to the procedures mentioned in this collection of verses, similar considerations underlie operative laparoscopy, culdoscopy, etc. 

You can view a collection of verses on this topic  by proceeding to 'Inner Enlightenment: The Scopes of Modern Medicine' on our full-service blog "Edifying Nonsense". Click HERE !

APR 23, wordplay maps, new world palindromes (#15,#16)

Keep more to yourself for a while, wash your hands frequently, remember to laugh on occasion, and stay well!

You can view the entire collection of these 50 wordplay maps, by accessing the collection 'Tourists Palindromic Guides: The Americas'. Start by clicking HERE! 

APR 22, boating: kayaking in "My Blue Heaven"

Start of the 'maiden voyage', 2015
(archival photo per RCH)

SONG-LYRICS: You may not be surprised that we have a parody song entitled "My Blue Sit-On" that you can enjoy by proceeding HERE. 

APR 21, mammalian wildlife: star-nosed mole

Authors' Note:  You can find a song about the star-nosed mole on our blog 'Edifying Nonsense'. Click HERE to access it! 

You can also review the whole collection of illustrated verses about mammals (both domestic and exotic) by checking out the more extensive post on our full-service blog "Edifying Nonsense". Click HERE !

APR 20, singable satire: Frank Sinatra sings "MY BLUE SIT-ON"

PARODY SONG-LYRICS

ORIGINAL SONG: "My Blue Heaven", W. Donaldson (music), G.A.Whiting (lyrics), 1928. Performed originally by Gene Austin, covered by almost 100 other bands and soloists, from Marlene Dietrich, to Frank Sinatra,  Fats Domino and Norah Jones.

PARODY COMPOSED: Dr. G. H. and Giorgio Coniglio, 2015,(updated March 2020). You might also explore a further day's adventure by clicking 'kayak excursion' on our blog 'Daily Illustrated Nonsense'.

UKULELE and GUITAR-FRIENDLY LINK: Our whole series of songs can be found in a friendly format for ukulele (and guitar)-players on our sister blog "SILLY SONGS and SATIRE" with chord-charts and helpful performing suggestions. To find ukulele chord-charts to help you accompany "My Blue Sit-On" on your favorite instrument, click HERE.

MY BLUE SIT-ON

(to the tune of "My Blue Heaven")

When scupper-holes bail

No fear to capsize!

I’m stable in my new sit-on.

She’s plump but petite,

Just measures nine feet

I’ve christened her My Blue Heaven.

I'’ll need a saddle-seat, a paddle, some repellent (-bug)

A type III vest to keep each vessel-rider snug.

Self-draining kayak,

Swift lift to roof-rack
Where I strap on My Blue Heaven.

A dolly to haul,

Don’t bring alcohol (chmmh!)
Boat-ramp to launch My Blue Heaven.

Could have a fishin’-pole, small ice-chest on a tidal ‘crick’
And she won’t swamp in wake or surf – that’s quite a trick.

Shem Creek, SC
foreground: sit-on kayak
background: trawlers

Where scupper-holes drain
Skip’s feeling no pain
Secure in his new blue sit-on.

I’ve got my cellphone in a baggy, I’m not gab-repressed
So while I’m damp and floating, I’ll 'yack-yack or text.

When my darling calls
That evening is nigh
I’ll be docking My Blue Heaven.

A neat gift for me
Just turned seventy.
I’m happy with My Blue Heaven,

Just so happy in My Blue Heaven.  

APR 19, curtained verse: business agenda

 EDITORS' WARNING: You must be at least 12 years of age to read this post!

Authors' Note: The authors hope and trust that Fran did actually check the age of her agents.

You can review other mildly scurrilous illustrated verses in a wider context by proceeding to 'Curtained verse: Faintly Obscene (Selected) Limericks' on the full-service blog 'Edifying Nonsense'.

APR 18, magical canal palindromes: 'A man, a plan, ... Paris'

You can become an expert fan of our wordplay concoction 'magical palindromes' by reviewing the explanatory material found in ancient days on our full-service blog "Edifying Nonsense" HERE; then, you could check how we applied this technique to 'canal palindromes' by viewing this more recent post.

APR 17, nuclear cardiology haiku, continued

 

APR 16, classic palindrome: 'Do geese see God?'

Authors' Note:     As with many classic palindromes, the origin of the iconic query,  ‘Do geese see God?’ is, in fact, unknown. The verse, however, suggests that it dates back to at least the fifth century B.C.E. The philosophic query is felt by some to be tarnished, and it remains unanswered into modern times.

You can review these illustrated verses in a wider context by proceeding to 'Reversing Verse: Limericks About Classic Palindromes' on the full-service blog 'Edifying Nonsense'. 

APR 15, the Charleston garden: Japanese yew

Keep more to yourself for a while, wash your hands frequently, remember to laugh on occasion, and stay well!

TO ENLARGE any slide or stand-alone photo on this blog, just click on it. To reverse the process, and return to this standard view, find the little 'x' in the upper right corner of the black field and click there.

UPDATE (2023): The property on the left no longer ( as of 2023) numbers among our real-estate holdings. See the recent posts on "Reconstructive Attitudes" showing views of an ongoing demolition/reconstruction project! 

You can review these illustrated verses in a wider context by proceeding to 'Poetry Praising the Charleston Garden' on the full-service blog 'Edifying Nonsense'. Click HERE!