- Joined
- Dec 4, 2017
- Posts
- 7,967
There are some very funny threads here - thanks @lovecraft68, @Smuttyandfun et al - but I thought I might take a look at soft humor, things gently amusing as opposed to ‘thigh-slappers’.
As an example, I’ll start with a number of short poems by a favourite of mine, Piet Hein. Hein was a Dane who started writing what he called ‘grooks’, short aphoristic poems, during the Nazi occupation. Here’s a sample:
It may be observed
in a general way
that life would be
better, distinctly,
if more of the people
with nothing to say
were able to say it
succinctly.
and
Love is like
a pineapple,
sweet and
undefinable.
and
To make a name for learning
when other roads are barred,
take something very easy
and make it very hard.
and
The road to wisdom? Well, it's plain
and simple to express:
Err
and err
and err again
but less
and less
and less.
and (a grook on toast)
There’s an art of knowing when.
Never try to guess.
Toast until it starts to smoke
then twenty seconds less.
and
Freedom means
you’re free to do
just whatever
pleases you;
- if, of course,
that is to say
what you please
is what you may.
and
In view of your manner
of spending your days
I hope you may learn.
before ending them.
that the effort you spend
on defending your ways
could better be spent
on amending them.
And, lastly, a particular favourite
When you’re adding up committees
there’s a useful rule of thumb:
that talents make a difference,
but follies make a sum.
So? Has anyone else a bit of soft wisdom that makes one smile? It need not be poetry.
As an example, I’ll start with a number of short poems by a favourite of mine, Piet Hein. Hein was a Dane who started writing what he called ‘grooks’, short aphoristic poems, during the Nazi occupation. Here’s a sample:
It may be observed
in a general way
that life would be
better, distinctly,
if more of the people
with nothing to say
were able to say it
succinctly.
and
Love is like
a pineapple,
sweet and
undefinable.
and
To make a name for learning
when other roads are barred,
take something very easy
and make it very hard.
and
The road to wisdom? Well, it's plain
and simple to express:
Err
and err
and err again
but less
and less
and less.
and (a grook on toast)
There’s an art of knowing when.
Never try to guess.
Toast until it starts to smoke
then twenty seconds less.
and
Freedom means
you’re free to do
just whatever
pleases you;
- if, of course,
that is to say
what you please
is what you may.
and
In view of your manner
of spending your days
I hope you may learn.
before ending them.
that the effort you spend
on defending your ways
could better be spent
on amending them.
And, lastly, a particular favourite
When you’re adding up committees
there’s a useful rule of thumb:
that talents make a difference,
but follies make a sum.
So? Has anyone else a bit of soft wisdom that makes one smile? It need not be poetry.
