'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!
Introduction
Oh my gosh, have you ever read the poem "Look What You Did, Christopher!" by Ogden Nash? I am absolutely in love with this piece of literature! It's such a fun and entertaining poem, but it also has some deep underlying meanings and themes that are worth exploring. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I am going to dive into the poem and explore its use of language, structure, tone, and themes.
Language and Structure
First of all, let's talk about the language and structure of the poem. Ogden Nash is known for his playful use of language and his witty wordplay, and "Look What You Did, Christopher!" is no exception. The poem is written in rhyming couplets, which gives it a sing-songy feel and makes it easy to read and remember. But what really stands out to me is the way Nash uses language to create humor and satire.
For example, in the first stanza, Nash writes:
Look what you did, Christopher, you made me ink my quill It's enough to give a poet a serious case of writer's block
This is such a clever use of language. On the surface, it's just a silly joke about a poet running out of ink. But when you think about it more deeply, it's a commentary on how easily we can be distracted from our creative pursuits. Christopher has disrupted the poet's flow, and now he's struggling to write. This is a theme that runs throughout the poem: the idea that one person's actions can have a ripple effect on the world around them.
Tone
Another thing that stands out to me about "Look What You Did, Christopher!" is the tone. Nash's tone is playful and lighthearted, but there's also a hint of sarcasm and satire. He's poking fun at Christopher, but he's also making a larger point about human behavior.
For example, in the second stanza, Nash writes:
Look what you did, Christopher, you made the kitten cry You disturbed her beauty sleep and now she's feeling mighty shy
On the surface, this is just a silly little anecdote about a kitten being woken up by Christopher. But when you think about it more deeply, it's a commentary on how easily we can disrupt the lives of others without even realizing it. Christopher's actions have caused the kitten to feel uncomfortable and vulnerable, and this is something we should all be mindful of in our interactions with others.
Themes
The themes of "Look What You Did, Christopher!" are what really make this poem stand out to me. On the surface, it's a lighthearted and entertaining poem, but there are some deeper themes at play here that are worth exploring.
One of the main themes of the poem is the idea that our actions have consequences. When Christopher does something, it has a ripple effect on the world around him. His actions cause the poet to run out of ink, the kitten to cry, and the duck to lose his feathers. This is a reminder that we should all be mindful of how our actions impact those around us.
Another theme of the poem is the idea that we should be kind to animals. The kitten and the duck are both portrayed as innocent and helpless, and Christopher's actions cause them both harm. This is a reminder that animals deserve our respect and care, and we should be mindful of how our actions impact them.
Conclusion
Overall, "Look What You Did, Christopher!" is a delightful and entertaining poem with some deeper themes at play. Ogden Nash's playful use of language and witty wordplay make the poem a joy to read, but there are also important messages about the consequences of our actions and the importance of kindness to animals. I highly recommend this poem to anyone who loves poetry or just wants a good laugh.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Look What You Did, Christopher! is a classic poem written by Ogden Nash, a renowned American poet known for his humorous and witty style. The poem is a playful and lighthearted take on the mischievous behavior of a young boy named Christopher, who is constantly getting into trouble.
The poem is structured in four stanzas, each consisting of four lines. The rhyme scheme is AABB, which gives the poem a sing-song quality and makes it easy to remember. The language used in the poem is simple and straightforward, with a lot of repetition and alliteration, making it accessible to readers of all ages.
The first stanza sets the tone for the poem, with the speaker addressing Christopher directly and scolding him for his misbehavior. The speaker says, "Look what you did, Christopher! / You spilled the milk in the pan / You broke the eggs on the floor / And you made a terrible mess of the frying pan." The repetition of "you" and the use of alliteration in "spilled the milk" and "broke the eggs" emphasize Christopher's actions and make them stand out.
The second stanza continues in the same vein, with the speaker listing Christopher's other misdeeds. The speaker says, "Look what you did, Christopher! / You tore your shirt on a nail / You tracked mud on the carpet / And you left the door open to the gale." Again, the repetition of "you" and the use of alliteration in "tracked mud" and "left the door open" draw attention to Christopher's actions and make them seem more significant.
The third stanza takes a slightly different turn, with the speaker acknowledging that Christopher's misbehavior is not entirely his fault. The speaker says, "Look what you did, Christopher! / You made your mother upset / You made your father angry / And you made your little sister fret." Here, the speaker is pointing out that Christopher's actions have consequences beyond just making a mess or breaking things. His behavior affects the people around him, and they are not happy about it.
The final stanza brings the poem to a close, with the speaker offering Christopher some advice. The speaker says, "Look what you did, Christopher! / You made a lot of trouble today / But tomorrow is a new day / And you can make it a better one, if you may." Here, the speaker is encouraging Christopher to learn from his mistakes and try to do better in the future. The use of the word "may" suggests that it is up to Christopher to decide whether or not he wants to change his behavior.
Overall, Look What You Did, Christopher! is a charming and humorous poem that captures the mischievous spirit of childhood. The repetition and alliteration used throughout the poem make it easy to read and remember, while the simple language and straightforward structure make it accessible to readers of all ages. The poem's message is one of hope and encouragement, reminding us that even when we make mistakes, we have the power to learn from them and do better in the future.
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