I have just found a fine example of a brilliant poetic joke which would be absolutely lost to all but Australian and New Zealand readers. Australians, who tend to say "feesh and cheeps"--laugh at New Zealanders because they say "fush and chups".
Note line ten and see if you get the joke--with the added knowledge that line 9 refers to the New Zealand Maori haka.
Janet
Performance
I starred that night, I shone:
I starred t I was footwork and firework in one,
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I starred ta rocket that wriggled up and shot
I starred tdarkness with a parasol of brilliants
I starred tand a peewee descant on a flung bit;
I starred tI was busters of glitter-bombs expanding
I starred tto mantle and aurora from a crown,
I starred tI was fouéttes, falls of blazing paint,
I starred tpara-flares spot-welding cloudy heaven,
I starred tloose gold off fierce toeholds of white,
I starred ta finale red-tongued as a haka leap:
I starred tthat too was a butt of all right!
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I starred tAs usual after any triumph, I was
I starred tof course, inconsolable.
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from
Subhuman Redneck Poems, by Les Murray 1996
Janet
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