David Yezzi


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Certainly Not

Hysteron-proteron,
Werner Karl Heisenberg
Felt that his birthday was
Hard to endure:

Could he have cake now and,
Quantum-mechanically,
Save it for afterwards?
He wasn’t sure.

 

The Moniker de Mon Oncle

Tragical-comical
Benedict Cumberbatch,
Prominent thespian,
Sherlock by fame,

Will, one conjectures quite
Elementarily,
Go down in history
Most for his name.

 

Copy That

Jiggery-pokery
X.J. (“Joe”) Kennedy
Seldom writes verses that
Fail to amuse.

“But,” he says, “someone has
Uncategorically
Stolen my act. Billy
Collins, J’accuse!”

 

Oysters or Snails

Higgledy-piggledy
Heliogabalus
Walked like a woman but
Talked like man,

Hiding his stubble with
Cosmetological
Legerdemain and a
Coppertone tan.

 

David Yezzi is a poet, critic, actor, editor, professor, and late-night banjo picker. His latest book of poems is Birds of the Air.