Quotes from Edward Lear

There was an Old Man of Peru, Who watched his wife making a stew; But once by mistake, In a stove she did bake, That unfortunate Man of Peru.

There was a Young Lady of Norway, Who casually sat in a doorway; When the door squeezed her flat, she exclaimed "What of that?" This courageous Young Lady of Norway.

There was an Old Person of Blythe, Who cut up his meat with a scythe, When they said, 'Well! I never!' - he cried, 'Scythes for ever!' That lively Old Person of Blythe.

nonsense pictures There was a Young Lady of Troy, Whom several large flies did annoy; Some she killed

Young Lady of Hull, Who was chased by a

Which distressed that Old Man of Jamaica. nonsense

There was an Old Man of the East, Who gave

There was a Young Lady of Bute, Who played on a silver-gilt flute; She played several jigs, To her uncle's white pigs, That amusing Young Lady of Bute.

It takes a long time to make a painter - even with a good artist's education - but without one it tries the patience of Job; it is a great thing if one does not go backward.

There was an old man who said, "How Shall I flee from this horrible cow? I will sit on this stile, and continue to smile, Which may soften the heart of that cow."

The Owl and the Pussy-Cat went to sea In a beautiful pea-green boat.

There was an old man with a beard, who said: 'It is just as I feared! Two owls and a hen, four larks and a wren have all built their nests in my beard.

There was an Old Man of Messina, Whose daughter was named Opsibeena; She wore a small wig, and rode out on a pig, To the perfect delight of Messina.

Two old Bachelors were living in one house; One caught a Muffin, the other caught a Mouse.

And if you voz to see my roziz As is a boon to all men's noziz, - You'd fall upon your back and scream - '" Lawk! O criky! it's a dream!"

I was much distressed by next door people who had twin babies and played the violin; but one of the twins died, and the other has eaten the fiddle, so all is peace.

They dined on mince, and slices of quince, Which they ate with a runcible spoon; And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand, They danced by the light of the moon.

They went to sea in a sieve, they did; In a sieve they went to sea; In spite of all their friends could say.