What is Your Favorite Ogden Nash Poem?

When a fellow drama enthusiast introduced me to the whimsical works of Ogden Nash, I was immediately captivated by the playfulness and wit in his verses. Among the myriad of poems he crafted, ldquo;Assorted Chocolatesrdquo; stood out, yet one of my favorites remains ldquo;Billboards: The Poem.rdquo;

ldquo;I think that I shall never see A billboard lovely as a tree. rdquo; Nash captures a poignant critique on modern advertising, juxtaposing the natural beauty of trees with the ldquo;assorted chocolatesrdquo; (in this context, billboards) that often mar the view. Nash’s verse reminds us of the ldquo;assorted chocolatesrdquo; (billboards) that, once tasted, are awkwardly returned to the box, much like our contemporary urban landscapes invaded by bustling advertisements.

Exploring Nash’s ldquo;Billboardsrdquo;: A Poetic Critique

Nash’s poem is an ode to the ldquo;treasures of the natural world, particularly trees, and their inherent value, in contrast to the artificial and often intrusive nature of billboards. His choice to title the piece ldquo;The Poemrdquo; is deliberate, suggesting it is not just a standalone work but a critical reflection on the visual and cultural landscape of his time.

Similarly, Nash’s poem ldquo;Billboardsrdquo; is inspired by ldquo;Treesrdquo; by Joyce Kilmer. Kilmer’s poem celebrates the unequaled beauty of trees, but Nash’s verses serve as a counterpoint, highlighting how ldquo;billboards have supplanted natural beauty in our modern world.rdquo;

The Influence of Literary Masters: From Byron to Nash

Another favorite, ldquo;Very Like a Whalerdquo;, which draws inspiration from ldquo;The Destruction of Sennacheribrdquo; by Lord Byron, showcases Nash’s ability to reinterpret and modernize classic literary works. The original text alludes to a formidable army led by an Assyrian, but Nash’s poem reimagines it as a whimsical statement, comparing the soldiers to something as simple and familiar as a whale.

Nash’s approach to literature is a parody of the Romantic and Classical traditions, where comparisons and similies abound. This is evident in the words of Lord Byron, ldquo;That Assyrian came down like a wolf on the foldrdquo;. Byron’s metaphor, while vivid and evocative, goes beyond simply describing the army’s attack on the Hebrew host. Instead, his extended comparison to a wolf is a hyperbolic and elaborate figure of speech.

Thelickr Habit of Metaphor and Simile

Through the overuse of metaphor and simile, Byron and other poets transform simple observations into elaborate and often misleading descriptions. Nash, in his poem ldquo;Very Like a Whalerdquo;, critiques this habit explicitly. He questions the logic behind comparing Assyrian soldiers to wolves, especially when the imagery provided (purple and gold cohorts) does not correspond to the reality of an actual wolf.

Nash implies that the poet should simply state what is and avoid the unnecessary embellishment with similes and metaphors. While such poetic devices can enhance the emotional and visual impact of a verse, Nash argues that they can sometimes take the reader away from the core meaning of the poem. In Nash's view, it is better to say that something is what it is, rather than employing extended comparisons that may distract or mislead.

Conclusion

The works of Ogden Nash not only provide entertainment through his playful and witty verses but also serve as a critical examination of literary traditions. By blending humor with deep insights into the nature of poetry, Nash encourages us to reflect on the reasons behind the love for metaphors and similes. His poems, such as ldquo;Billboardsrdquo; and ldquo;Very Like a Whalerdquo;, continue to challenge and entertain readers, reminding us of the power and responsibility that poets have in shaping our perceptions.