h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Right then. Thought we might try this Vogon Poetry Game. The rules are so loose that we can disregard them ... um, except for the no spitting rule - that stuff can be slippery and cause a nasty fall. The idea is, someone finds a couple of lines of Vogonesque poetry in a fairly well known poem (so it's not too difficult) and the rest of us work out which poem it's from and who wrote it. As we're just starting, we can really make it up as we go along. Hull suggest we might like to target Great Names and see who can find the most ridiculous examples of their work. To start with I'm going for a bit of a combination. Tibley Bobley has a strong feeling for the verse of a particular poet (see her page if you need a clue) so I'll use that as the starting point. Here goes:

"What the hammer? What the chain?
"In what furnace was thy brain?"

That's it. Name that poem. For another point, name the poet. You may confer. If you can find further material by the same author that's up to Vogon standards you can earn further points. Let the game begin ...

Anything to do with a tyger? Or aren't I supposed to be playing?

I've invented a rule, which of course you may disregard at will: the person who gets the author and the title gets to choose the next one.


Hull

And I would like to nominate Sal as referee. Do I have any seconders?



Hull

I second that emotion

shazz

Yes. You're onto it. There's definitely a big stripy moggy involved. Of course you must play. Don't deprive us of your great wisdom

The rule sounds like a fine idea.

I don't mind refing as long as there's no biting, scratching or gouging

Sal

~Tyger tyger, Burning bright
In the forest of the night
What immortal hand or eye
Can frame thy fearful symme-try~

by Blake I believe

shazz

Madam! You've won a teapot. Well done! Your turn ...

Sal

~Where are the songs of Spring? Ay, where are they?
Think not of them, thou hast thy music too,-~

A small clue in there...
Here's another:
Written 1819

shazz

Oh yes! I know that one. I or someone was just going on about that a couple of weeks ago. It's the one that starts "Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness!" That's just gone. The birds were just enjoying all the berries on the hedgerows when along came the farmer with his mangler and hacked all the hedges to bits. It's Keats' "To Autumn". In the same verse, another likely line with Vogon merit "Then in a wailful choir the small gnats mourn ..." . Lovely


Sal

Wonderful
My favourite Poet by a long way!

Your turn!

shazz

(present company excepted of course! )

shazz

Okeedokee

"She only said, 'My life is dreary,
"He cometh not,' she said;
"She said, 'I am aweary, aweary,
"I would that I were dead!' "

Now, they don't come much more cheerful than that, do they?

Here's your clue: the poet's span was 1809 - 1892.

Sal

Right... I know who the poet is in that case.

*thinks...*
*will return*

shazz

mmmmmmm thinks.........Lord Alfred perhaps?

What a nice game!

Beth

I think I know... but someone else should have a go!

shazz

'Tis Mariana by Anyone-For-Tennyson? One of his truly Pathetic pieces


Hull

You mean I was wrong? It was not Lord Alferd's Mariana?

Beth - oh dear, I have more studying to do.

Oh sorry, Hull - great one etc. - didn't see you there before I posted.

Beth

Yes, it's Alfred, Lord Tennyson's Mariana, in which many Vogon treasures are hid

Well done you knowledgeable club members you.

Sal