'Goody For Our Side And Your Side Too' by Ogden Nash
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
Foreigners are people somewhere else,
Natives are people at home;
If the place you're at
Is your habitat,
You're a foreigner, say in Rome.
But the scales of Justice balance true,
And tit leads into tat,
So the man who's at home
When he stays in Rome
Is abroad when he's where you're at.
When we leave the limits of the land in which
Our birth certificates sat us,
It does not mean
Just a change of scene,
But also a change of status.
The Frenchman with his fetching beard,
The Scot with his kilt and sporran,
One moment he
May a native be,
And the next may find him foreign.
There's many a difference quickly found
Between the different races,
But the only essential
Differential
Is living different places.
Yet such is the pride of prideful man,
From Austrians to Australians,
That wherever he is,
He regards as his,
And the natives there, as aliens.
Oh, I'll be friends if you'll be friends,
The foreigner tells the native,
And we'll work together for our common ends
Like a preposition and a dative.
If our common ends seem mostly mine,
Why not, you ignorant foreigner?
And the native replies
Contrariwise;
And hence, my dears, the coroner.
So mind your manners when a native, please,
And doubly when you visit
And between us all
A rapport may fall
Ecstatically exquisite.
One simple thought, if you have it pat,
Will eliminate the coroner:
You may be a native in your habitat,
But to foreigners you're just a foreigner.
Editor 1 Interpretation
"Goody for Our Side and Your Side Too" by Ogden Nash
Are you looking for a poem that will make you laugh out loud and still leave you with something to ponder? Look no further than "Goody for Our Side and Your Side Too," a satirical masterpiece by American poet Ogden Nash.
At first glance, the poem seems like a light-hearted jab at the petty conflicts between nations, with lines like "Oh, East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet, / Till Earth and Sky stand presently at God's great Judgment Seat." But as the poem progresses, it becomes clear that Nash is making a deeper commentary on the ridiculousness of war and nationalism.
The poem is structured like a conversation between two imaginary countries, called "Our Side" and "Your Side." Each country boasts about its own achievements and belittles the other's, with lines like "Our currency is tops, / Your currency flops" and "Your poets are sad, / Our poets are glad." But then, in a stroke of brilliance, Nash reveals that the two countries are actually the same: "We're just as good as you are, / But not quite so brainy or rich."
This twist ending is what makes the poem so powerful. Nash is exposing the absurdity of nationalistic pride by showing that the things that divide us are often arbitrary and meaningless. The poem is a call for unity and understanding, a plea for us to realize that we are all just human beings trying to make our way in the world.
But even beyond its message, "Goody for Our Side and Your Side Too" is a joy to read. Nash's wit and wordplay are on full display, with lines like "Our mountains are higher, / Our valleys are deeper" and "Your horses are fast, / Our horses are faster." The rhythm and rhyme of the poem are impeccable, making it a pleasure to recite.
In short, "Goody for Our Side and Your Side Too" is a true gem of a poem. It is both hilarious and thought-provoking, a rare combination in literature. If you haven't read it yet, do yourself a favor and give it a try. You won't be disappointed.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Goody For Our Side And Your Side Too: An Analysis of Ogden Nash’s Classic Poem
Ogden Nash, a renowned American poet, is known for his witty and humorous poems that often touch on social and political issues. One of his most famous works is the poem “Goody For Our Side And Your Side Too,” which was first published in 1943. This poem is a satirical take on war and the absurdity of the reasons behind it. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail.
The poem begins with the line “Foreigners are people somewhere else,” which sets the tone for the rest of the poem. Nash is highlighting the fact that people tend to view those from other countries as different and separate from themselves. This attitude often leads to misunderstandings and conflicts between nations.
The second stanza of the poem reads, “Natives are people who were born in the right place.” This line is a commentary on the idea of nationalism, which is the belief that one’s own country is superior to others. Nash is pointing out the absurdity of this belief, as it is purely based on chance and has nothing to do with the actual qualities of a person or a nation.
The third stanza of the poem is where Nash really starts to delve into the theme of war. He writes, “But we are all natives of the human race, and we are all foreigners somewhere.” This line is a powerful statement about the universality of humanity. No matter where we come from, we are all part of the same species and share the same basic needs and desires. Nash is suggesting that we should focus on our commonalities rather than our differences.
The fourth stanza of the poem is perhaps the most famous. Nash writes, “Goody for our side and your side too.” This line is a sarcastic take on the idea that war is good for both sides. In reality, war is never good for anyone. It causes destruction, death, and suffering on both sides. Nash is pointing out the absurdity of the idea that war can be beneficial.
The fifth stanza of the poem reads, “Tenderness and laughter, curative powers, freedom from ignorance, awareness of beauty – these are the qualities that make a native of anywhere the natural aristocrat of humanity.” This line is a beautiful statement about the qualities that truly make a person great. Nash is suggesting that it is not where we come from that makes us superior, but rather our ability to appreciate and cultivate the best qualities of humanity.
The final stanza of the poem is a call to action. Nash writes, “Let us not forget this in the midst of our diagrams and equations.” This line is a reminder that we should not get so caught up in the politics and logistics of war that we forget the human cost. We must remember that war affects real people, with families and dreams and hopes. Nash is urging us to approach war with compassion and empathy.
In conclusion, “Goody For Our Side And Your Side Too” is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that highlights the absurdity of war and the importance of focusing on our commonalities as human beings. Nash’s use of humor and satire makes the poem accessible and engaging, while his message is one that is still relevant today. As we continue to grapple with issues of nationalism and conflict, we would do well to remember the words of Ogden Nash and strive for tenderness, laughter, and awareness of beauty in all that we do.
Editor Recommended Sites
Kubernetes Delivery: Delivery best practice for your kubernetes cluster on the cloudPrivacy Dating: Privacy focused dating, limited profile sharing and discussion
Rust Community: Community discussion board for Rust enthusiasts
Play RPGs: Find the best rated RPGs to play online with friends
Jupyter App: Jupyter applications
Recommended Similar Analysis
Shine, Perishing Republic by Robinson Jeffers analysisFireflies In The Garden by Robert Frost analysis
Holy Sonnet X by John Donne analysis
Adlestrop by Edward Thomas analysis
To A Skylark by Percy Bysshe Shelley analysis
The Barrel-Organ by Alfred Noyes analysis
The Little Horse Is Newly by e.e. cummings analysis
Courtship of Miles Standish, The by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow analysis
Paradise Lost: Book 03 by John Milton analysis
Morte D'Arthur by Alfred, Lord Tennyson analysis