Japanese and Chinese Poets Imagined Frogs Performing Poems
Te wo tsuite uta mōshiaguru kawazu hana
Placing his hands on
Mud, the frog respectfully
Recites his poem.
~ Sōkan
Those poets speak of frogs producing lines
Of poetry. Such poets of the pond
Gulp forth their verses. Croak on croak refines
The rapping, croaking rhyming far beyond
The modern rappers, CROAK, croak, CROAK, and CROAK,
Since every sound rhymes, rhymes, rhymes, rhymes, and rhymes,
Intensity of rhyme’s enough to choke
Those black rude rapping British blokes. Throat crimes
Croaked out these rapsters spew through mouths and tongues.
Forgét the tíme-proved goód of stéady béat.
The rhyme is all that matters. O! for bungs
To stop their gobs and dance words indiscreet!
..Shut up those stumbling, rhyming, dirty clogs!
….I’d rather hear the Oriental frogs.
~ Phillip Whidden
