Monday 26 January 2009

Lord Colon of Borborygm

THIS

PLUS
EQUALS ... ?

There was once a noble Lord Colon of Borborygm, who is much-revered by sufferers of IBS. He was famed for methane production, and only a lighted-match away from incandescence.

Here's his eulogy:

Lord Colon of Borborygm,
So-called for alimentary grumbles,
In life committed no serious crime,
But was famed for tummy rumbles.

One day he dined on vindaloo
With poppadums for starters,
A little lime pickle and raita too,
Before he joined the martyrs.

Sweat appeared on furrowed brow.
There was copious lacrimation.
“I think I'll use the nan bread now
To mop this perspiration."

Those subtle spices burned his mouth
And made the mucus flow.
A strange sensation then moved south
And stormy winds did blow.

From the kitchen there came wailing,
Nose-holding was in the bar.
Faces all around were paling.
Customers cried, “Fetch the car!”

’Twas thus that Colon's end was met,
By methane-oxidation.
Someone lit a cigarette...
There was instant conflagration.


Glossary:
IBS: Ian Bunkum-Smith. Sorry, I meant irritable bowel something.
Borborygmi: A medical term for a noisy abdomen associated with overactive intestinal peristalsis. 'Borborygm' rhymes with rhyme!
Methane-oxidation: An exothermic reaction: CH4 + 2O2 → CO2 + 2H2O

(BANG!)

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

You call that "poetry"? Only if poor rhyming and bad scansion count!

The City Folk Club said...

Some claim that Shakespeare is 'literature'.
Schoenberg believed he composed 'music'.
Beckham calls what he does 'sport'.
Kenneth Clarke (see earlier post) believed he was promoting democrasy.
(Shall I go on?)
You or I may disagree with these opinions, but we acknowledge the right to hold them.
By the same token, I suffered for this art, so I call it 'poetry'.

Actually it is a salutary warning about human physiology, Indian restaurants, and a lesson in the chemistry of carbon.

The City Folk Club said...

Almost forgot:

Hunt supporters call it 'couhtryside management'.

Boxers beat each others brains out believing that such activity is legitimate competition.

Folk-singers invoke the notion of a 'rich heritage'.

Pantomime performers ... well ...?
'Entertainment', possibly?

Should we give these people the benefit of similar consideration?