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

As another hint, here are the last words of the *last* four lines:

thongs
chill
songs
will

(This is sounding very 2legsian!)

When I was four and twenty, dressed in naught but thongs
My hardy body never felt the chill
I wandered at my leisure, singing summer songs
Those days have not come back and never will

Sorry, this is a different game I'm playing. Perhaps I should start a thread for it.

It's a far better game now

If you know the author, say so; if not, then complete the poem

Definitely better.

Do you want me to post the answer to that one, so someone else can have a go?

It's up to you. I've no idea, sadly.

I think you must have read it at some point, because you had a vague memory of it - it's a Dorothy Parker one, "A Song of Perfect Propriety".

http://wonderingminstrels.blogspot.com/2000/12/song-of-perfect-propriety-dorothy.html

Yes, that's the one

OK, I'll set another. Song lyrics this time:

Blast
Fast
Me
Be

Dorothy Parker is brilliant!

Now for Slarti-blast-fast the amoebe ...

As it's a couple of days old now, I feel I should give a clue.

It's a rock and roll number featured in a movie...

A strange case of serendipity has led me here, and brought the answer to me, whilst investigating knot-tying techniques (when I should really have been working!)

Although, actually, I'm not sure who the 'writer' is...

I'll try " Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey"

That is indeed correct, Spiff.

It was of course the first four lines of the song "Summer Nights" from the movie "Grease".

Over too you

Okay, I'll go for:

sun
thus
us
run

Hmm. ABBA suggests a sonnet. Then what pops up but

When I consider how my light is sun
Ere half my days in this dark world and thus
And that one talent which 'twere death to us
Lodged with me useless, though my soul more run ...

Aaarggghhh!

That sounds a bit heavy after Summer Nights

Who's the poet?

It's an oldie - but I think you'll get it done...

Oh, so Recumbentman's wasn't right?

I thought it sounded a bit Beatles-like, but I haven't placed it yet.

The Beatles did have 'I'll follow the Sun' but I can't recall them saying 'thus'.

Now I'm thinking Pink Floyd

"No one told you when to run
You missed the starting gun"

But I can't remember what comes before it.

I thought RM's was another improv!

This sun is unruly...

I thought Recumbentman was taking off John Milton.

I have no idea about the other lyric.