Fun in the Pun with Mary and the Lamb

Poetry... What can I say... it's complicated... You just have to look at its wikipedia definition to see that:

Poetry is a form of literature that uses aesthetic and rhythmic qualities of language—such as phonaesthetics, sound symbolism, and metre—to evoke meanings in addition to, or in place of, the prosaic ostensible meaning.

It can be funny, sad, emotional, meaningless, challenging, pretentious [insert adjective of choice] but, more than any other art form, is oh so subjective...

Of course everyone's a poet! Just ask anyone one who works on a magazine with a poetry column. It's not easy to tell someone that the opus they submitted and put their heart and soul into is... not very good.

I was reflecting on this the other day (as you do – especially when the traffic means your journey to work is taking forever) while pondering that most well known form of poetry – the Nursery Rhyme (I doubt there is one person out there who, if asked, couldn't recite one at the drop of a hat) specifically...

Mary had a little lamb
it's fleece was white as snow;
And everywhere that Mary went
the lamb was sure to go. 

Now before anyone posts a comment that the original states (allegedly) the lamb was a 'he' in the spirit of political correctness I am being gender neutral :P

What you may not realise though is that there are other verses to this popular little rhyme however I thought this one that I wrote is really much better:

Mary lost the rag with this –
It was a little... sinner!
So she grabbed by its scrawny neck
And chopped it up for dinner.

Always have been very fond of lamb chops :) (Please note – no real lambs were injured in the writing of this rhyme!)

And how many of you recall this version which, as a child, seemed so funny...

Mary had a little lamb
she also had a bear.
You always saw her little lamb
but never saw her bear.

(Bear... get it... you could be talking about the bear or Mary being bear... no... oh well...)

I recall using that little ditty as an example years ago when discussing a friends poetry and the merits of how saying the same thing in different forms and styles can affect it such as...

Mary watched her lamb at play
in fields of grass that dance and sway,
but heartache drove her fervent prayer –
sweet memories of her absent bear.

and...

Mary sighed
the lamb sprang
the evening closed
the bear gone

and for this post I've even attempted some haiku...

Spring brought forth the lamb
but Mary did not see it
for her heart was bear

or

The lamb nudged Mary
the promise of Spring brought forth
two had become three

Anyway... I don't think i'll be submitting a magnum opus for publication anytime soon but hopefully I've a least raised a little smile.

Happy New Year :)