Poetry Plagiarization Part 2: The Scam

Robert The Posh Fox

Robert the posh fox had a tea party

In the middle of the forest is where it was

He invited the lark, the moose and the monkey

And they had a wonderful time juggling saws

When they were done they couldn't stop giggling

For the lark had fallen to the ground

His friends so bemused couldn't stop chuckling

For the lark was now tumbling around

Tumbling around

Tumbling around

For the lark was now tumbling around

The lark was so dizzy from tumbling down the hill

That the moose and the monkey decided to help

By making the lark laugh, pretending to be an elephant

But suddenly they heard a loud yelp

Now they heard what they never before had, had

Robert the posh fox was laughing like mad

Twas such a frightfully funny sight

That the lark, the moose and the monkey joined

They joined

Oh yes, they joined

The lark, the moose and the monkey joined

The four friends decided to go to the stream

And swing from the weeping willow tree

The monkey and the moose were splashing around

The fox and the lark discussed his dream

Then they all sat down and ate crumpets and scones

They talked and talked so out came the moon

To make the day perfect they split a wishbone

And the monkey wished for a tune

He wished for a tune

He wished for a tune

So Robert played it on his didgeridoo

Poetry Plagiarization Part 1: The Original

The Owl and The Pussycat (Edward Lear)

The Owl and the Pussy-cat went to sea In a beautiful pea green boat, They took some honey, and plenty of money, Wrapped up in a five pound note. The Owl looked up to the stars above, And sang to a small guitar, 'O lovely Pussy! O Pussy my love, What a beautiful Pussy you are, You are, You are! What a beautiful Pussy you are!'

Pussy said to the Owl, 'You elegant fowl! How charmingly sweet you sing! O let us be married! too long we have tarried: But what shall we do for a ring?' They sailed away, for a year and a day, To the land where the Bong-tree grows And there in a wood a Piggy-wig stood With a ring at the end of his nose, His nose, His nose, With a ring at the end of his nose.

'Dear pig, are you willing to sell for one shilling Your ring?' Said the Piggy, 'I will.' So they took it away, and were married next day By the Turkey who lives on the hill. They dined on mince, and slices of quince, Which they ate with a runcible spoon; And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand, They danced by the light of the moon, The moon, The moon, They danced by the light of the moon.

Poem Response

Pantoum of the Great Depression

The poem “Pantoum of the Great Depression” was written by Donald Justice to express the emotions and experiences of the Great Depression. The Great Depression struck America during the 1930’s and devastated the country raising the unemployment rate by 25 percent. Many people became impoverished and started to work seasonally on farms picking various vegetables, cotton and fruit. Also many great novels were spawned by the depression, like Of Men and Mice or To Kill a Mocking Bird.
The poem as the name states is a pantoum, though it does breaks its structure in the last stanza. The overall mood of the poem is gloomy but peppered with the themes of patriotism and pride of the people. The images Donald Justice uses are bleak and miserable, as they are intended to convey the archetypical perception of the Great Depression. The words Donald Justice uses are strong and negative for example; tragedy, storms, catastrophe, sorrow, fear and fog. The imagery is very dark, but it is the overall meaning of the sentence which counteracts its. We can use the example of “Our lives avoided tragedy”, there might be the word tragedy in the sentence but the fact that it’s avoided takes away the power of its meaning. Beneath the lines, we can see the poems true intentions shine through. The poem is meant to give hope, tell the people that life will go on and that they might not know when the depression ends but it will have to end.
Donald Justice was born 1925 in Miami, Florida. He graduated from the University of Miami and taught poetry in the Iowa writer workshops. He won a Pulitzer for his memoir Selected Poems. Donald Justice is known for his pessimistic lyrics and for his specific use of narration and repetition.

Sonnet

When the glorious day vanishes into the night
When the stars and moon bid thee good evening
I sit forsaken and frozen with fright
From a thought that I can’t perceive its meaning

For I have found, myself to be acceptable
Yet now I fear my sweet life has run its course
As no person has deemed me suitable
They are now compelled to remove me by force

I have tried to drive these bleak thoughts away
Sleep, medicine and liquor have aided
But still into my mind they continue to stray
My mind is befuddled and heavily laded

I lay in my bed next to the lonesome light
Wishing, praying that the day deceives the night