'Look What You Did, Christopher!' by Ogden Nash

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In fourteen hundred and ninety-two,
Someone sailed the ocean blue.
Somebody borrowed the fare in Spain
For a business trip on the bounding main,
And to prove to the people, by actual test,
You could get to the East by sailing West.
Somebody said, Sail on! Sail on!
And studied China and China's lingo,
And cried from the bow, There's China now!
And promptly bumped into San Domingo.
Somebody murmured, Oh dear, oh dear!
I've discovered the Western Hemisphere.And that, you may think, my friends, was that.
But it wasn't. Not by a fireman's hat.
Well enough wasn't left alone,
And Columbus was only a cornerstone.
There came the Spaniards,
There came the Greeks,
There came the Pilgrims in leather breeks.
There came the Dutch,
And the Poles and Swedes,
The Persians, too,
And perhaps the Medes,
The Letts, the Lapps, and the Lithuanians,
Regal Russians, and ripe Roumanians.
There came the French
And there came the Finns,
And the Japanese
With their formal grins.
The Tartars came,
And the Terrible Turks -
In a word, humanity shot the works.
And the country that should have been Cathay
Decided to be
The U.S.A.And that, you may think, my friends, was that.
But it wasn't. Not by a fireman's hat.
Christopher C. was the cornerstone,
And well enough wasn't left alone.
For those who followed
When he was through,
They burned to discover something, too.
Somebody, bored with rural scenery,
Went to work and invented machinery,
While a couple of other mental giants
Got together
And thought up Science.
Platinum blondes
(They were once peroxide),
Peruvian bonds
And carbon monoxide,
Tax evaders
And Vitamin A,
Vice crusaders,
And tattletale gray -
These, with many another phobia,
We owe to that famous Twelfth of Octobia.
O misery, misery, mumble and moan!
Someone invented the telephone,
And interrupted a nation's slumbers,
Ringing wrong but similar numbers.
Someone devised the silver screen
And the intimate Hollywood magazine,
And life is a Hades
Of clicking cameras,
And foreign ladies
Behaving amorous.
Gags have erased
Amusing dialog,
As gas has replaced
The crackling firelog.
All that glitters is sold as gold,
And our daily diet grows odder and odder,
And breakfast foods are dusty and cold -
It's a wise child
That knows its fodder.
Someone invented the automobile,
And good Americans took the wheel
To view American rivers and rills
And justly famous forests and hills -
But someone equally enterprising
Had invented billboard advertising.
You linger at home
In dark despair,
And wistfully try the electric air.
You hope against hope for a quiz imperial,
And what do they give you?
A doctor serial.
Oh, Columbus was only a cornerstone,
And well enough wasn't left alone,
For the Inquisition was less tyrannical
Than the iron rules of an age mechanical,
Which, because of an error in '92,
Are clamped like corsets on me and you,
While Children of Nature we'd be today
If San Domingo
Had been Cathay.And that, you may think, my friends, is that.
But it isn't - not by a fireman's hat.
The American people,
With grins jocose,
Always survive the fatal dose.
And though our systems are slightly wobbly,
We'll fool the doctor this time, probly.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Look What You Did, Christopher! by Ogden Nash: An Analysis

Are you looking for a poem that is humorous, witty, and relatable? Look no further than Ogden Nash's "Look What You Did, Christopher!" This poem, written in 1954, is a delightful satire of parental frustration that is sure to make you chuckle.

Form and Meter

The poem consists of four stanzas, each with four lines. The rhyme scheme is AABB, making it easy to follow and remember. The meter is irregular, with lines ranging from three to eight syllables. This adds to the humor of the poem, as the lines flow smoothly until they trip over themselves, much like a parent trying to keep up with a mischievous child.

Themes

The primary theme of the poem is parental exasperation. Nash captures the frustration of a parent whose child has caused chaos and destruction, leaving a mess in their wake. The poem also touches on the theme of innocence, as the child, Christopher, is unaware of the trouble he has caused.

Imagery and Figurative Language

One of the strengths of this poem is Nash's use of vivid imagery and figurative language. He compares Christopher to a whirlwind, a torpedo, and a hurricane, all of which convey the idea that the child is a force of nature that cannot be controlled. The use of hyperbole in lines such as "You've torn the hinges off the gate / And splintered the trellis around the garden" emphasizes the extent of the damage caused by Christopher's antics.

Nash also employs irony in his portrayal of the child as innocent and ignorant of the consequences of his actions. This is evident in lines such as "You've washed your hands and wiped your lips / And now you're ready for a few more chips," which suggest that Christopher is more concerned with satisfying his own immediate desires than with the mess he has made.

Tone and Mood

The tone of the poem is lighthearted and humorous, with a touch of exasperation. Nash's use of playful language and absurd imagery creates a sense of whimsy that is sure to put a smile on the reader's face. The mood is one of amusement, as the reader is invited to laugh at the absurdity of the situation.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "Look What You Did, Christopher!" is a delightful poem that captures the frustration and humor of parenthood. With its witty wordplay, vivid imagery, and playful tone, it is sure to bring a smile to the face of anyone who has ever dealt with a mischievous child. So the next time you're feeling exasperated by your own little whirlwind, just remember: you're not alone.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Look What You Did, Christopher! is a classic poem written by Ogden Nash that has been enjoyed by generations of readers. This poem is a humorous and playful take on the idea of a child being scolded for misbehaving. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, literary devices, and overall message of the poem.

The poem begins with the speaker addressing Christopher, who has apparently done something wrong. The speaker says, "Look what you did, Christopher! / You made a hole in the sky / With your finger and thumb, / And the blue leaked out." This opening stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is full of playful exaggeration and absurdity.

The first literary device that stands out in this poem is the use of hyperbole. The idea of a child making a hole in the sky with their finger and thumb is obviously impossible, but it serves to create a sense of whimsy and playfulness. The image of the blue leaking out of the sky is also a hyperbolic image that adds to the overall absurdity of the poem.

Another literary device that Nash employs in this poem is rhyme. The poem is written in a simple ABAB rhyme scheme, which gives it a sing-song quality that is reminiscent of children's nursery rhymes. This rhyme scheme also helps to create a sense of rhythm and flow in the poem, which makes it easy to read and enjoyable to listen to.

The poem also contains a number of puns and wordplay. For example, in the second stanza, the speaker says, "You upset the goldfish bowl, / And the fish are making a fuss." The word "upset" can mean both "to tip over" and "to make someone angry," which adds a layer of humor to the line. The use of the word "fuss" is also a pun, as it can mean both "a commotion" and "the noise made by a fish."

As the poem progresses, the speaker continues to list all of the things that Christopher has supposedly done wrong. He has "crumpled the moon / Like an old silver spoon," "torn a hole in the sea," and "made the mountains shake." Each of these images is hyperbolic and absurd, but they serve to create a sense of wonder and playfulness in the poem.

The final stanza of the poem is perhaps the most important, as it reveals the true message behind the playful exaggeration. The speaker says, "But I'm not cross, I'm not mad, / I'm only glad that you're here. / Think of the trouble you'd be in / If you hadn't come near!" This final stanza reveals that the speaker is not actually angry with Christopher, but is instead grateful for his presence. The poem is a celebration of childhood and the joy that comes from being around children.

In conclusion, Look What You Did, Christopher! is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a playful and whimsical take on the idea of a child being scolded for misbehaving, and it employs a number of literary devices to create a sense of wonder and playfulness. The poem's true message is revealed in the final stanza, which celebrates the joy that comes from being around children. This poem is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the magic of childhood and to bring a smile to the faces of readers of all ages.

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