Ode on the Mammoth Cheese
The poem celebrates an enormous cheese, weighing over 7,000 pounds, personifying it as the "queen of cheese." It describes the cheese's serene presence, being admired and prepared for a provincial show in Toronto. The imagery evokes a sense of grandeur and pride, highlighting the effort of numerous cows that contributed to its creation. The speaker expresses hope that the cheese remains unblemished as it is intended for a prestigious exhibition in Paris, cautioning against the potential mishandling by enthusiastic youth. The poem employs playful metaphors, suggesting that if the cheese were to float in the sky, it would cast a shadow like the moon, emphasizing its impressive size and significance. The overall tone is celebratory, reflecting local pride and the whimsical nature of the cheese's existence.
By James McIntyre · First published 1888 · Genre: Poetry, Humor, Satire · 239 words
First lines
Weighing over 7,000 pounds.
We have seen thee, queen of cheese, Lying quietly at your ease, Gently fanned by evening breeze, Thy fair form no flies dare seize.
All gaily dressed soon you'll go To the great Provincial show, To be admired by many a beau In the city of Toronto.
Cows numerous as a swarm of bees, Or as the leaves upon the trees, It did require to make thee please, And stand unrivalled, queen of cheese.
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Ode on the Mammoth Cheese is listed on Textopian as a poem by James McIntyre, dated 1888 CE.
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- Work type: Poem
- Author: James McIntyre
- Date: 1888 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Humor, Satire, Celebratory Literature, Nature Writing
- Length: 239 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is a poem that employs rhyme and meter, focusing on the celebration of a large cheese.
- Humor — The poem uses playful language and absurd imagery to evoke humor surrounding the subject of cheese.
- Satire — The poem satirizes societal norms and events, such as exhibitions and public admiration.
- Celebratory Literature — The poem celebrates a specific object, the mammoth cheese, highlighting its significance in a local context.
Tags
Poem · Cheese · Ode · Literary · Humorous · Satirical · Canadian · 19th Century · Verse · Rhyme · Formal · Whimsical