Ballade of a Hardy Annual by Franklin P. Adams
The poem explores the themes of mortality and the fleeting nature of life through the metaphor of a hardy annual plant that blooms briefly before wilting. The speaker reflects on the inevitability of decline and death, drawing parallels between the plant's cycle and human existence.
By Franklin P. Adams · First published 1919 · Genre: Satire, Humor, Poetry · 305 words
First lines
Many a jest that refuses to die / Bobs up again as the seasons appear; / Deathless it hits us again in the eye -- / Changeless and dull as the calendar year. / Musty and mouldy and yellow and sere, / Stronger, withal, than the sturdiest oak; / Ancient and solemn and deadly and drear -- / Down with the grandmother-funeral joke!
Soon as the snow has forgotten to fly, / All through the day of the "leathery sphere," / Jokelets and pictures and verses we spy / All on the theme of the grandmother dear. / Bonnets, umbrellas, and buckets of beer / Please us and tickle us quite to the choke. / But -- on this matter our attitude's clear -- / Down with the grandmother-funeral joke!
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Genres
- Satire — The poem uses humor and irony to critique the persistence of outdated jokes, particularly the 'grandmother-funeral joke'.
- Humor — The work is filled with comedic elements, poking fun at the repetitive nature of certain jokes and societal norms.
- Poetry — The structure and style of the work are poetic, employing rhyme and meter to convey its message.
- Social Commentary — The poem comments on cultural practices and the endurance of certain comedic tropes, reflecting on societal attitudes.
Tags
Satire · Humor · Poetry · Literary Fiction · Social Commentary · Critique of Society · American Literature · Early 20th Century Writing · Wit and Irony · Sarcasm · Observational Comedy · Commentary on Human Nature
What this Textopian page supports
Ballade of a Hardy Annual is listed on Textopian as a poem by Franklin P. Adams, dated 1919 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Franklin P. Adams
- Date: 1919 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Satire, Humor, Poetry, Social Commentary
- Length: 305 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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- Work identity for Ballade of a Hardy Annual by Franklin P. Adams
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