The Firefly

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The Firefly

By Ogden Nash

The firefly’s flame
Is something for which science has no name
I can think of nothing eerier
Than flying around with an unidentified glow on a
person’s posteerier.

_______________________

There is not much special analysis needed for this poem, so I will draw your attention to the author instead.

Who is Ogden Nash?

Frederic Ogden Nash (August 19, 1902 – May 19, 1971) was an American poet well known for his light verse, of which he wrote over 500 pieces. With his unconventional rhyming schemes, he was declared the country’s best-known producer of humorous poetry.

When Nash wasn’t writing poems, he made guest appearances on comedy and radio shows and toured the United States and the United Kingdom, giving lectures at colleges and universities.

Nash was regarded with respect by the literary establishment, and his poems were frequently anthologized even in serious collections such as Selden Rodman’s 1946 A New Anthology of Modern Poetry.

Nash was the lyricist for the Broadway musical One Touch of Venus, collaborating with librettist S. J. Perelman and composer Kurt Weill. The show included the notable song “Speak Low.” He also wrote the lyrics for the 1952 revue Two’s Company.

Nash and his love of the Baltimore Colts were featured in the December 13, 1968 issue of Life, with several poems about the American football team matched to full-page pictures. Entitled “My Colts, verses and reverses,” the issue includes his poems and photographs by Arthur Rickerby. “Mr. Nash, the league leading writer of light verse (Averaging better than 6.3 lines per carry), lives in Baltimore and loves the Colts,” it declares. The comments further describe Nash as “a fanatic of the Baltimore Colts, and a gentleman.” Featured on the magazine cover is defensive player Dennis Gaubatz, number 53, in midair pursuit with this description: “That is he, looming 10 feet tall or taller above the Steelers‘ signal caller … Since Gaubatz acts like this on Sunday, I’ll do my quarterbacking Monday.” Memorable Colts Jimmy OrrBilly Ray SmithBubba SmithWillie RichardsonDick Szymanski and Lou Michaels contribute to the poetry.

Among his most popular writings were a series of animal verses, many of which featured his off-kilter rhyming devices. Examples include “If called by a panther / Don’t anther”; “Who wants my jellyfish? / I’m not sellyfish!”; “The one-L lama, he’s a priest. The two-L llama, he’s a beast. And I will bet a silk pajama: there isn’t any three-L lllama!”. Nash later appended the footnote “*The author’s attention has been called to a type of conflagration known as a three-alarmer. Pooh.”

The best of his work was published in 14 volumes between 1931 and 1972.

One thought on “The Firefly

  1. Dear Dusty Reviewer,

    Thank you for visiting my blog and following along. I hope to see you in heaven one day.

    The articles below are about how Jesus Christ saves us from hell and reconciles us to God the Father. They are rather long but I trust that you might find them edifying:

    https://aeon01.wordpress.com/my-testimony-2/
    https://aeon01.wordpress.com/the-whole-counsel-of-god/
    https://aeon01.wordpress.com/please-help-the-persecuted-church/

    Before and while you read them, kindly bear in mind the below. Check all that I have said against God and His Word:
    “11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” (Acts 17:11, King James Bible).

    I have used the King James Bible throughout as I believe it is the most faithful translation we have today.

    May the Lord Jesus bless you with His salvation:

    “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. ” (Romans 6:23, King James Bible)
    “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he will direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:6)

    And if you are saved, may you have an ever closer walk with Him.

    Love in Christ,
    Naomi

    “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

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