For this, my third year doing the challenge, I am going literary. For every letter of the alphabet I will talk about a book, an author or a character from fiction or myth that made an impression, was inspirational, or caused me to think.
Ogden Nash remains a favorite American poet of light, humorous, and nonsense verse. One of his most famous is:
Candy
Is dandy
But liquor
Is quicker.
You can find a nice assortment of his poems here.
My favorite of his is a story poem called The Christmas that Almost Wasn't, with delightful illustrations by his daughter Linell Nash. Published in 1957, it's a book we read almost every year during the Christmas holidays.Nicholas Knock is a seven year old boy who must rescue good King Oldwin and save Christmas from the king's evil nephew Evilard. It is full of humor and adventure, a book worthy of being republished because it is a classic, unbound by time. If you like Christmas stories, this is one of the best.
Are you familiar with Nash? Have a favorite poem?
N is Ogden Nash (and Nicholas Knock) Other N influences: Anais Nin, Andre Norton, The Nightingale by Hans Christian Andersen, The Neverending Story (the book, not the movie)
Ogdon Nash is always a favorite with his pithy little sayings.
ReplyDeleteI love how you chose to do the challenge this year! I decided to back out this year but had I gone with your idea I think I would have been inspired. I admire your take and look forward to catching up on all the past one's you've chosen!
ReplyDeleteWith love - Jen from Unedited
I have that book. It is in pretty much mint condition. The plastic cover a little worn, but other than that it's looking good. This gets eerier and eerier, Bish!
ReplyDeleteYou posts are giving me a guilty conscience as you keep coming up with peoples I've always promised myself I'd read - but haven't.
ReplyDeleteNash wrote some pretty witty ditties.
ReplyDeleteAs a stamp collector, I'm glad you used an image of a postage stamp.
Lee
An A to Z Co-Host
Tossing It Out
Try my networking experiment
Interesting theme! I have to admit I'm not very familiar with Ogden Nash...
ReplyDeleteWow, this may be the first of your posts I didn't already know about. Need to check into this Nash fellow...
ReplyDeleteNow I can handle poetry like that!
ReplyDeleteMy wife is a big fan of Christmas stories, so I'm going to point her at this one. Thank you! :)
ReplyDeleteA child need not be very clever
ReplyDeleteTo learn that "Later, dear" means never.
Loved this one!
Oh, I do love Ogden Nash. Now, if only I could possess a fraction of his wit and whimsy ... great theme for your abcderian challenge.
ReplyDeletethat Christmas book looks charming--thanks
ReplyDeleteI read his poetry long ago. I enjoyed his style.
ReplyDeleteI've heard of Ogden Nash. I didn't realize he was the author of "Candy is dandy..."
ReplyDeleteSusanne
PUTTING WORDS DOWN ON PAPER
hah, love his quote about candy and liquor...I came home and had a Mike's Hard Lemonade just to calm me down from my day! (since no ocean was available!)
ReplyDeleteSeems like he has a clever way with words. I like that. Thanks for sharing. Also, The Neverending Story (the book) is one of my favorites.
ReplyDeleteI've not heard of Ogden Nash, but I love that poem you sampled.
ReplyDeleteHi Bish .. I've heard of Ogden Nash and am sure I've read many of his pithy verses ... time to read more and keep an eye out for him .... the Christmas story does sound fun ..
ReplyDeleteCheers Hilary