'Song To Be Sung By The Father Of Infant Female Children' by Ogden Nash

AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay

My heart leaps up when I behold
A rainbow in the sky;
Contrariwise, my blood runs cold
When little boys go by.
For little boys as little boys,
No special hate I carry,
But now and then they grow to men,
And when they do, they marry.
No matter how they tarry,
Eventually they marry.
And, swine among the pearls,
They marry little girls.
Oh, somewhere, somewhere, an infant plays,
With parents who feed and clothe him.
Their lips are sticky with pride and praise,
But I have begun to loathe him.
Yes, I loathe with loathing shameless
This child who to me is nameless.
This bachelor child in his carriage
Gives never a thought to marriage,
But a person can hardly say knife
Before he will hunt him a wife.
I never see an infant (male),
A-sleeping in the sun,
Without I turn a trifle pale
And think is he the one?
Oh, first he'll want to crop his curls,
And then he'll want a pony,
And then he'll think of pretty girls,
And holy matrimony.
A cat without a mouse
Is he without a spouse.
Oh, somewhere he bubbles bubbles of milk,
And quietly sucks his thumbs.
His cheeks are roses painted on silk,
And his teeth are tucked in his gums.
But alas the teeth will begin to grow,
And the bubbles will cease to bubble;
Given a score of years or so,
The roses will turn to stubble.
He'll sell a bond, or he'll write a book,
And his eyes will get that acquisitive look,
And raging and ravenous for the kill,
He'll boldly ask for the hand of Jill.
This infant whose middle
Is diapered still
Will want to marry My daughter Jill.
Oh sweet be his slumber and moist his middle!
My dreams, I fear, are infanticiddle.
A fig for embryo Lohengrins!
I'll open all his safety pins,
I'll pepper his powder, and salt his bottle,
And give him readings from Aristotle.
Sand for his spinach I'll gladly bring,
And Tabasco sauce for his teething ring.
Then perhaps he'll struggle though fire and water
To marry somebody else's daughter.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Introduction

Ogden Nash is a name that resonates with humor, wit, and satire. However, in his poem "Song To Be Sung By The Father Of Infant Female Children," Nash takes on a more serious tone. He addresses the concern of fathers regarding the future of their daughters in a male-dominated society. This poem is significant in that it highlights the issues of gender inequality that were prevalent in the early 20th century.

Analysis

The poem opens with the father's apprehension about the future of his infant daughter. He worries that his daughter's life will be filled with "troubles, sorrows, and sad surprises." Nash is depicting the father's fear of the potential struggles his daughter may face as a woman in a patriarchal society.

Nash then moves on to address the issue of male chauvinism in society. He writes, "I hope my daughter will not be / A slave of any silly fashion." Nash is criticizing the societal expectation placed on women to adhere to certain beauty standards and fashion trends. He is advocating for the freedom of women to choose what they want to wear and how they want to present themselves.

The poem continues with the father expressing his desire for his daughter to be strong and independent. He writes, "I hope my daughter will be / An independent thinker / With her own philosophy." Nash is advocating for women to have the freedom to think for themselves and have their own beliefs and opinions.

Nash then addresses the issue of education for women. He writes, "I hope my daughter will have / The courage of her convictions / And not be mindlessly subservient / To all her future in-laws' wishes." Nash is advocating for women to be educated and have the confidence to stand up for their beliefs and not succumb to societal pressure to conform.

The poem ends with the father expressing his love for his daughter. He writes, "I love my daughter more than life, / And I would hate to see her treated / As just another woman." Nash is highlighting the fact that women have been historically treated as inferior to men, and he is advocating for a society where women are valued and respected as equals.

Interpretation

Ogden Nash's "Song To Be Sung By The Father Of Infant Female Children" is a powerful poem that addresses the issues of gender inequality and male chauvinism that were prevalent in the early 20th century. Nash is advocating for a society where women have the freedom to choose their own path in life and are respected and valued as equals.

The poem is significant in that it highlights the father's fear for his daughter's future in a male-dominated society. Nash is depicting the societal expectation placed on women to conform to certain beauty standards and fashion trends. He is advocating for women to have the freedom to choose what they want to wear and how they want to present themselves.

Nash is also advocating for women to be strong and independent. He is advocating for women to have the freedom to think for themselves and have their own beliefs and opinions. He is also advocating for women to be educated and have the confidence to stand up for their beliefs and not succumb to societal pressure to conform.

The poem is significant in that it is a powerful call to action for society to change its views on women. Nash is advocating for a society where women are valued and respected as equals. He is highlighting the fact that women have been historically treated as inferior to men, and he is advocating for a society where women are valued and respected as equals.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Ogden Nash's "Song To Be Sung By The Father Of Infant Female Children" is a powerful poem that addresses the issues of gender inequality and male chauvinism that were prevalent in the early 20th century. Nash is advocating for a society where women have the freedom to choose their own path in life and are respected and valued as equals. His poem is a powerful call to action for society to change its views on women and to create a more equitable and just society.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry is a form of art that has the power to evoke emotions and stir the soul. It can be used to express love, joy, sadness, and even humor. One such example of humorous poetry is the classic "Song To Be Sung By The Father Of Infant Female Children" written by Ogden Nash.

Ogden Nash was an American poet known for his witty and humorous poems. He was born in 1902 and died in 1971, leaving behind a legacy of over 500 published poems. His poems were often short and playful, and he had a unique talent for using language in unexpected ways.

"Song To Be Sung By The Father Of Infant Female Children" is a perfect example of Ogden Nash's style. The poem is a humorous take on the challenges of raising infant girls. It is written in the form of a song, with a catchy rhythm and rhyme scheme that makes it easy to remember.

The poem begins with the father addressing his infant daughter, telling her that he loves her more than anything in the world. He then goes on to list the challenges that come with raising a baby girl. He talks about how difficult it is to change their diapers, how they cry all the time, and how they are always getting into trouble.

Despite these challenges, the father reassures his daughter that he will always be there for her. He promises to protect her from the world and to love her unconditionally. He tells her that she is the most precious thing in his life and that he will do anything to make her happy.

The poem is full of clever wordplay and puns. For example, when the father talks about changing his daughter's diaper, he says, "I'll do anything for you dear, anything, / For you mean everything to me. / I'll even learn how to change the sodden diaper, / And I'll do it tenderly."

The use of the word "sodden" instead of "dirty" or "wet" adds a humorous touch to the poem. It also shows how Ogden Nash was able to use language in unexpected ways to create a playful and lighthearted tone.

Another example of Nash's wordplay is when he talks about his daughter's crying. He says, "I'll comfort you when you're distressed, / And I'll share your grief when you're depressed. / I'll cry with you too, if it be that you must, / But I must admit I'd rather you didn't just."

The use of the word "just" at the end of the stanza is a clever way of playing with the double meaning of the word. It can mean "simply" or "only," but it can also mean "right now" or "immediately." This adds a layer of humor to the poem and shows how Nash was able to use language to create a playful and witty tone.

Overall, "Song To Be Sung By The Father Of Infant Female Children" is a delightful poem that captures the joys and challenges of raising a baby girl. It is a testament to Ogden Nash's talent as a poet and his ability to use language in unexpected ways. The poem is a reminder that even in the midst of the chaos and challenges of parenthood, there is always room for humor and playfulness.

Editor Recommended Sites

Crytpo News - Coindesk alternative: The latest crypto news. See what CZ tweeted today, and why Michael Saylor will be liquidated
Gitops: Git operations management
Dev Asset Catalog - Enterprise Asset Management & Content Management Systems : Manager all the pdfs, images and documents. Unstructured data catalog & Searchable data management systems
Learn Machine Learning: Machine learning and large language model training courses and getting started training guides
Machine Learning Events: Online events for machine learning engineers, AI engineers, large language model LLM engineers

Recommended Similar Analysis

Habitation by Margaret Atwood analysis
Sixteen Dead Men by William Butler Yeats analysis
Haunted Oak, The by Paul Laurence Dunbar analysis
Sonnet LX by William Shakespeare analysis
Little Summer Poem Touching The Subject Of Faith by Mary Oliver analysis
I never saw a moor, by Emily Dickinson analysis
Hyla Brook by Robert Frost analysis
Merry-Go-Round by Langston Hughes analysis
Lost by Carl Sandburg analysis
The Pains Of Sleep by Samuel Taylor Coleridge analysis