The Hippopotamus
Behold the hippopotamus!
We laugh at how he looks to us,
And yet in moments dank and grim,
I wonder how we look to him.
Peace, peace, thou hippopotamus!
We really look all right to us,
As you no doubt delight the eye
Of other hippopotami.
Commentary
I never knew there were so many hippopotamusings in the world…
It’s fitting that the last word1 on hippos should fall to Ogden Nash; the hippo is nothing if not a Nash creature, an improbability on four legs. And yet, as the poet points out, we humans must look equally absurd in its eyes: thin-skinned, anorexic, and always on the verge of falling over…
On a purely technical note, I do think the poem would have been better had Nash stopped after the first quatrain. The second stanza needlessly belabours the joke of the first, while not adding much in the way of humour. Or maybe that’s just me.
— Thomas
Minstrels Links
Poem #124, “The Hippopotamus”, Hilaire Belloc
Poem #844, “The Hippopotamus”, Oliver Herford
Poem #845, “Recipe for a Hippopotamus Sandwich”, Shel Silverstein
Poem #846, “The Hippopotamus”, T. S. Eliot
Poem #847, “On the Death of Smet-Smet, the Hippopotamus-Goddess”, Rupert Brooke
[Thanks]
I’m back online after a fortnight spent travelling; my thanks go to Martin and various guest Minstrels for covering while I was away.
Endnote
Hippopotami really is the plural of hippopotamus (though hippopotamuses is also acceptable).
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Yes, this really is the last poem in this theme. Really. ↩
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From the Wondering Minstrels mailing list, 1999–2008.
Ja.Grosskurth · 17 December 2003
I agree that the second quatrain does not add much in terms of humor. But if you imagine the poem being recited to an audience of hippopotami, it does have great additional value. The first quatrain is anthropocentric, the second quatrain is ecocentric. The first emphasizes the ability of self-reflection. The second emphasizes the value of mutual respect.
garland.simon · 15 November 2004
I LOVE THIS POEM SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! -CAMERON SIMON AGE 12
PRABHASH GOKARAN · 15 December 2004
I Had a Hippopotamus
I had a hippopotamus; I kept him in a shed
And fed him upon vitamins and vegetable bread. I made him my companion on many cheery walks, And had his portrait done by a celebrity in chalks.
His charming eccentricities were known on every side. The creature’s popularity was wonderfully wide. He frolicked with the Rector in a dozen friendly tussles, Who could not but remark on his hippopotamuscles.
If he should be affected by depression or the dumps By hippopotameasles or hippopotamumps
I never knew a particle of peace ‘till it was plain He was hippopotamasticating properly again.
I had a hippopotamus, I loved him as a friend But beautiful relationships are bound to end. Time takes, alas! our joys from us and robs us of our blisses. My hippopotamus turned out to be a hippopotamissus.
My housekeeper regarded him with jaundice in her eye. She did not want a colony of hippopotami.
She borrowed a machine gun from her soldier-nephew, Percy And showed my hippopotamus no hippopotamercy.
My house now lacks the glamour that the charming creature gave. The garage where I kept him is as silent as a grave. No longer he displays among the motor-tires and spanners His hippopotamastery of hippopotamanners.
No longer now he gambols in the orchard in the Spring; No longer do I lead him through the village on a string; No longer in the mornings does the neighborhood rejoice To his hippopotamusically-modulated voice.
I had a hippopotamus, but nothing upon the earth Is constant in its happiness or lasting in its mirth. No life that’s joyful can be strong enough to smother My sorrow for what might have been a hippopotamother.
–Patrick Barrington
Are there copyright issues ?
regards,
Prabhash Gokarn
Head Planning
Bearings M&S, Kolkata
garland.simon · 16 May 2005
This is the most amazing poem ever! I love reading it to my friends because they get such a kick out of it. I have even memorized it!! It¹s my favorite poem ever! :^) :^) :^) :^)
~Cameron Simon