Podcast appearances and mentions of william mcgonagall

In a second celebration of Poetry Month, Danielle McLaughlin continues to school us on what makes poetry. We explore the structure and spirit of poems—from the musicality of dub poetry to William McGonagall's famously awful verse. And yes, we shower you with more original poetry, this time in the style of limerick. AMI Audiobook Review is broadcast on AMI-audio in Canada and publishes three new podcast episodes a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.Follow AMI Audiobook Review on YouTube & Instagram!We want your feedback!Be that comments, suggestions, hot-takes, audiobook recommendations or reviews of your own… hit us up! Our email address is: audiobookreview@ami.caAbout AMIAMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French — and streaming platform AMI+. Our vision is to establish AMI as a leader in the offering of accessible content, providing a voice for Canadians with disabilities through authentic storytelling, representation and positive portrayal. To learn more visit AMI.ca and AMItele.ca.Find more great AMI Original Content on AMI+Learn more at AMI.caConnect with Accessible Media Inc. online:X /Twitter @AccessibleMediaInstagram @AccessibleMediaInc / @AMI-audioFacebook at @AccessibleMediaIncTikTok @AccessibleMediaInc

Send us a textThe World's Worst Poet.The World's Worst Macbeth. William McGonagall.It's just William McGonagall. shelwereadapoem@gmail.com@ShelWeRead

This week: the carve-up of Ukraine's natural resources From the success of Keir Starmer's visit to Washington to the squabbling we saw in the Oval Office and the breakdown of security guarantees for Ukraine – we have seen the good, the bad and the ugly of geopolitics in the last week, say Niall Ferguson and Nicholas Kulish in this week's cover piece. They argue that what Donald Trump is really concerned with when it comes to Ukraine is rare earth minerals – which Ukraine has in abundance under its soil. The conventional wisdom is that the US is desperately short of these crucial minerals and, as Niall and Nicholas point out, the dealmaking president is driven by a nagging sense of inferiority in comparison to rare earth minerals powerhouse China. Niall and Nicholas joined the podcast to talk further. (02:19) Next: why are women having caesareans being offered sterilisation? During a routine antenatal appointment, Flora Watkins was blindsided by the opening gambit from her obstetrician: ‘Why don't we tie your tubes when we've got the baby out?' The doctor wouldn't drop it, despite Flora's objections, insisting it was ‘a very simple procedure'. Flora speaks to other women who were traumatised by these unsolicited offers and confused about why they had been targeted. Most felt it was a judgment on the number of children they ‘should' have. Only one woman had been given a medical reason. Flora joined the podcast to discuss this further, alongside Dr Janet Barter, president of the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare, which advises women on contraception. (18:50) And finally: when is poetry so bad that it becomes good? Sam Leith, The Spectator's literary editor, celebrates William McGonagall in the magazine – the man affectionately considered the worst poet in history. McGonagall was, as Sam says, an ‘anti-genius' who (in light of the Tay Bridge Disaster) concocted such memorable stanzas as: Beautiful Railway Bridge of the Silv'ry Tay! Alas! I am very sorry to say That ninety lives have been taken away On the last Sabbath day of 1879, Which will be remember'd for a very long time. But Sam argues that there is joy to be found in bad poetry. To discuss good poetry, bad poetry and the very fine line between them, Sam Leith joined the podcast alongside one of the more successful Dundonian poets, Don Paterson. (33:08) Hosted by William Moore and Lara Prendergast. Produced by Oscar Edmondson.

This week: the carve-up of Ukraine's natural resources From the success of Keir Starmer's visit to Washington to the squabbling we saw in the Oval Office and the breakdown of security guarantees for Ukraine – we have seen the good, the bad and the ugly of geopolitics in the last week, say Niall Ferguson and Nicholas Kulish in this week's cover piece. They argue that what Donald Trump is really concerned with when it comes to Ukraine is rare earth minerals – which Ukraine has in abundance under its soil. The conventional wisdom is that the US is desperately short of these crucial minerals and, as Niall and Nicholas point out, the dealmaking president is driven by a nagging sense of inferiority in comparison to rare earth minerals powerhouse China. Niall and Nicholas joined the podcast to talk further. (02:19) Next: why are women having caesareans being offered sterilisation? During a routine antenatal appointment, Flora Watkins was blindsided by the opening gambit from her obstetrician: ‘Why don't we tie your tubes when we've got the baby out?' The doctor wouldn't drop it, despite Flora's objections, insisting it was ‘a very simple procedure'. Flora speaks to other women who were traumatised by these unsolicited offers and confused about why they had been targeted. Most felt it was a judgment on the number of children they ‘should' have. Only one woman had been given a medical reason. Flora joined the podcast to discuss this further, alongside Dr Janet Barter, president of the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare, which advises women on contraception. (18:50) And finally: when is poetry so bad that it becomes good? Sam Leith, The Spectator's literary editor, celebrates William McGonagall in the magazine – the man affectionately considered the worst poet in history. McGonagall was, as Sam says, an ‘anti-genius' who (in light of the Tay Bridge Disaster) concocted such memorable stanzas as: Beautiful Railway Bridge of the Silv'ry Tay! Alas! I am very sorry to say That ninety lives have been taken away On the last Sabbath day of 1879, Which will be remember'd for a very long time. But Sam argues that there is joy to be found in bad poetry. To discuss good poetry, bad poetry and the very fine line between them, Sam Leith joined the podcast alongside one of the more successful Dundonian poets, Don Paterson. (33:08) Hosted by William Moore and Lara Prendergast. Produced by Oscar Edmondson.

Ella Frears is a poet and artist based in London. Her collection Shine, darling was shortlisted for the Forward Prize for best first collection, and the TS Eliot prize for poetry.  Writers/artists mentioned John Cooper Clarke, Sylvia Plath, William Burroughs, Patti Smith, Toni Morrison, William McGonagall. Book mentioned Priestdaddy by Patricia Lockwood.

Ian is joined by Harry Enfield, Jan Ravens and Lewis Macleod to bring the Private Eye annual 2023 (available in shops now. Ed.) to the stage. Featuring Sylvie Krin, EJ Thribb, William McGonagall, Sir Herbert Gussett and many more!

This week we are joined by the wonderful Evan Munro-Smith, to talk about a man often referred to as "the worst poet in the history of the English language" - William McGonagall. This is a comedy/history podcast, the report begins at approximately 07:36 (though as always, we go off on tangents throughout the report).Support the show and get rewards like bonus episodes: patreon.com/DoGoOnPodSupport the show on Apple podcasts and get bonus episodes in the app: http://apple.co/dogoon Submit a topic idea directly to the hat: dogoonpod.com/suggest-a-topic/Check out our merch: https://do-go-on-podcast.creator-spring.com/ Check out our AACTA nominated web series: http://bit.ly/DGOWebSeries​ Twitter: @DoGoOnPodInstagram: @DoGoOnPodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/DoGoOnPod/Email us: dogoonpod@gmail.com Check out our other podcasts:Book Cheat: https://play.acast.com/s/book-cheatPrime Mates: https://play.acast.com/s/prime-mates/Listen Now: https://play.acast.com/s/listen-now/Who Knew It with Matt Stewart: https://play.acast.com/s/who-knew-it-with-matt-stewart/ Our awesome theme song by Evan Munro-Smith and logo by Peader ThomasDo Go On acknowledges the traditional owners of the land we record on, the Wurundjeri people, in the Kulin nation. We pay our respects to elders, past and present. REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING:https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/william-mcgonagallhttps://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poet/william-mcgonagall/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_McGonagallhttps://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofScotland/William-McGonagall-The-bard-of-Dundee/http://www.mcgonagall-online.org.uk/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ladies n' Genminminminmin (er, min...) please welcome the warm and wonderful silky-voiced beauty Michael Fenton Stevens to "The Good Listening To" Clearing!Michael Fenton Stevens is an English actor and comedian. He is best known for being a founder member of The Hee Bee Gee Bees and the voice behind the Spitting Image 1986 number 1 hit "The Chicken Song":"Hold a chicken in the air Stick a deckchair up your nose Buy a jumbo jet and then bury all your clothes Paint your left knee green then extract your wisdom teeth Form a string quartet and pretend your name is Keith"  We've all done it...Mike also has his own wonderful podcast called "My Time Capsule":A podcast that asks guests, such as Stephen Fry, David Mitchell, Caroline Quentin, Ross Noble, Lee Mack, Arabella Weir & Rob Brydon, for five things which they'd like to put in a Time Capsule.They can choose anything from an item, to a memory, a film or even a country. Four of them are things they want to preserve but one has to be something they're happy to lock away and never have to think about again. And he's also been in the seminal BBC sit-com "Only Fools & Horses".Like the Great Gatsby before him, Michael Fenton Stevens has always been proud to be an Oxford man - albeit more Brookes than Balliol. When, in his second year, Michael was introduced to fellow student, Mandy Fenton, it was love at first sight - at least as far as Michael was concerned. But, a bit like Doris Day, he kept his love a secret. When a subtle twist of fate revealed that Mandy Fenton also had feelings for Michael Stevens, they started on a path to becoming Mr and Mrs Fenton Stevens. They had children and now their children have children. First and foremost, Michael Fenton Stevens is a family man and his wife, Mandy Fenton Stevens, has a PhD in Bio Chemistry.  Michael remains her greatest fan to this day and acknowledges the profound personal transformation that he attributes primarily to her. Michael's other greatest influencers were his own parents, both alas no longer with him. His father, Harry, was a good professional comic before becoming a full-time criminal defence lawyer, who still enjoyed singing old music-hall songs at weekends, often encouraging Michael to join him on stage. Originally also,  Michael followed in his father's footsteps for a year or two, as a potential legal eagle - but all he ever really wanted to do was tread the boards himself, in his own right. Taking his father's advice, Michael boldly asked all and sundry to help him get an Equity card. Bill Kenwright kindly obliged. Again as directed by his father, Michael modelled his voice on the dulcet tones of the film star, Robert Donat, rather than continuing with his sprawling suburban drawl, originally from Bermondsey, modified in Orpington. Yvonne Mitchell acted as his acting coach. Anthony Quayle took on the role of professional mentor and pub lunch companion. Michael has worked with many of the most famous names in the business, including Richard Curtis, Ben Elton and Angus Deayton. Michael also has a number one novelty song to his credit for Spitting Image - the Chicken Song topped the charts in 1986! In the last two years Michael has created well over 200 "My Time-Capsule" podcasts, starting with Stephen Fry, no less! A former smoker, Michael is also just completing a one million step exercise to raise awareness of Type 2 Diabetes. Michael finds contentment sitting quietly beside the sea at Cooden Beach, throwing pebbles at a groyne. He has the rhyming skill of William McGonagall and the surreal humour of Man U star Eric Cantonar. In fact, Michael Fenton Stevens has a lot of wise words to say - and he says them all so beautifully. Please sit back and listen now. Thank you and enjoy!

What's cute, not cannibalistic, and looks like a tiny little scholar? A chicken wearing little glasses, probably. In today's episode, Madison tells us about the 20th century fad of chicken eyeglasses and Meghan tells us about William McGonagall - a subpar poet with a great middle name.

S4 E36: Shehanne Moore on Dundee's Famous Poet, William McGonagall “I may say Dame Fortune has been very kind to me by endowing me with the genius of poetry.” William McGonagall, The Autobiography of Sir William Topaz McGonagall Welcome to Tea, Toast and Trivia. Thank you for listening in. I am your host; Rebecca Budd and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you. Join me as I travel virtually to Broughty Ferry, Scotland, Dundee's Historic Seaside Village, to meet up with my friend, writer, and publisher, Shehanne Moore. Shehanne has given us exciting historical romances – O'Roarke's Destiny, His Judas Bride, Loving Lady Lazuli, The Unraveling of Lady Fury, and the list goes on. As many of you know, Shehanne, has extensive knowledge of classical literature. A few months ago, she introduced me to William McGonagall, one of Scotland's best-known poets. I confess that I had never heard this name before. William McGonagall was the son of the working-class Irish handloom weavers. He was born in 1825 in Edinburgh and raised in Dundee. Some say that William McGonagall was the worst poet ever to commit pen to paper and yet, his poetry has never been out of print since his death in 1902. His influence is seen in the works of Spike Milligan, The Muppet Show, Terry Pratchett, and Monty Python's Flying Circus. Who was William McGonagall? Why was his poetry deemed “the worst?” Was he a fool or a genius? These are the questions that will be discussed today. I invite you to put the kettle on and add to this exciting discussion on Tea Toast & Trivia. Thank you, Shehanne for introducing me to an unforgettable poet who persevered despite ridicule by those who looked down on his lowly station and humble verse. The more I read about William McGonagall, the more I see his brilliance. The poem “Attempted Assassination of the Queen” by Knight of the White Elephant of Burmah, William McGonagall can be accessed on the following link: Attempted Assassination Of The Queen Thank you for joining Shehanne and me on Tea Toast & Trivia. I invite you to meet up with Shehanne on WordPress, Pinterest, and Twitter. You are only an internet click away from being swept away on a daring adventure. Until next time we meet, dear friends, safe travels wherever your adventures take you. Music by: #EpidemicSound Howard Harper Barnes "Behind Every Powerful Man" https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/yKWtfxzmse/ Claude Signet "Together is Better" https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/gPLIAeQ0Cj/

100 episodes down and we are celebrating with a feast of culture from north of the border!William Topaz McGonagall was a man who knew that the had the spirit of an artist. Unfortunately he had the occupation of a weaver and would have to wait until he was over half a century old before he could begin pursuing his dream in earnest. With a long-suffering wife in tow he vowed to become the greatest poet in British History, determined to achieve fame, fortune, Royal favour and the respect of his fellow man...One out of four isn't too bad, right?Guest Host: Emma Heathcote See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this episode, we review a form of art we haven't explored yet - poetry! It's our review of Poet McGonagall's Masterpieces, a compilation of works by the Scottish poet William McGonagall! Known as one of the worst poets of all time, we give Mr. McGonagall a fair shake at being appreciated for what he's contributed to the world. Alfonz gives their first poetry recital, and we discuss unpronounceable place names, the importance of rhythm, and our secret cocktail recipes as we attempt to determine…Is This Art Good? *Any reference to Jamie Buckley is completely fictional and has no basis on any real person. Apologies if this is your name. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/isthisartgood/message

Aber er gab trotzdem nie auf…

Dear God in Heaven he's known as the worst poet in history and for good reason.  Between whales, bridges, and jute, the man is an unstoppable force of ass.  Not the good kind.  We're here to discuss the man, the myth, the unfortunate legend of William McGonagall!

Welcome to the History Sideshow - my weekly podcast that runs in between the main Unearthed seasons. This week Ryan looks at another theory regarding the burial of Scotland's "worst poet", takes you down the rabbit hole of Scottish Faerie folklore, and delivers the week in Scottish History News! Interview clips from author and historian Charlotte Golledge and Colin Waters from the Scottish Poetry Library.

In which Scottish mill-worker William McGonagall becomes notorious for his utterly sincere but terrible poetry, and John plans to instigate a sex riot. Certificate #44448.

Happy April fools Day! Please enjoy this special episode of Scintillating Stories. We have collected  six hilariously terrible poems for your enjoyment. Featuring the 'talents' of William McGonagall, Julia Ann Moore and Amanda McKittrick Ross. Support the show (https://ko-fi.com/beech_hedge_witch)

Michael and Ethan take a no rules, no kings, anarchy special and explore “The Tay Bridge Disaster,” the most famous poem by William McGonagall, widely considered the worst poet in the English Language.In this episode:The podcast very nearly turns into a very different, wasabi-based podcastEthan does some puns, but they might not be intentionalMcGonagall Online is a great website, honestly.Michael drops out for a second reading the first stanza, sorry, but you should probably read this for yourself anyway: The Tay Bridge Disaster.Michael tries really hard to redeem McGonagall.Bridges, man. You know?McGonagall is very relatable, honestlyEthan shares little-known but very true facts about classic Christmas movie “It’s A Wonderful Life”This poem is a newspaper articleNext episode they’ll begin talking about By Force Alone, by Lavie Tidhar. Join the discussion! Go to the Contact page and put "Scotch Talk" in the Subject line. We'd love to hear from you! And submit your homework at the Michael & Ethan in a Room with Scotch page. Donate to our Patreon! BUY A NIHILIST BLANKET! Your Hosts: Michael G. Lilienthal (@mglilienthal) and Ethan Bartlett (@bjartlett) MUSIC & SFX: "Kessy Swings Endless - (ID 349)" by Lobo Loco. Used by permission. "The Grim Reaper - II Presto" by Aitua. Used under an Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License. "Thinking It Over" by Lee Rosevere. Used under an Attribution License.

In this episode Austin admires the sincerity of the sub-par poetry written by William McGonagall and Michael talks about his favorite music written by dirty hobos. Things get personal in this one folks.

The first in a new series of shows direct from the Shedinburgh Fringe Festival! Today, listen to Gary McNair on performing his hilarious tribute to William McGonagall (the world’s worst poet) as a solo show, in a shed, in a theatre, on your screens! The post Shedcast – Gary McNair appeared first on Putting it Together.

Harry Potter fans flock to Greyfriars Kirkyard in Edinburgh to hunt down the tombstones that bear the names of their favourite characters. But one of them has a great story to tell. William Topaz McGonagall is more than just a name...he is a legend all of his own. Who is William McGonagall? Why should we care? And where exactly is he now?For more information about the podcast, visit: www.thebiglight.com/unearthedFollow the show on Twitter: @Unearthed_Pod See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this episode Suzie examines the work of the alleged worst poet in history and Trevor finds one of the stranger impacts of Rasputin’s legacy. What the History? Don’t forget… Continue reading "Bad Poetry and Mad Inspiration"

In this episode Suzie examines the work of the alleged worst poet in history and Trevor finds one of the stranger impacts of Rasputin’s legacy. What the History? Don’t forget… Continue reading "Bad Poetry and Mad Inspiration"

In the first podcast of April, the panel examines the work of a truly exceptional poet--the unparalleled and indefatigable William Topaz McGonagall--and discusses three of his poems related to the Tay Bridge (near by Dundee and the Magdalen Green).

In the first podcast of April, the panel examines the work of a truly exceptional poet--the unparalleled and indefatigable William Topaz McGonagall--and discusses three of his poems related to the Tay Bridge (near by Dundee and the Magdalen Green).

S2E21 What better way to celebrate the Edinburgh Fringe kicking off than with some awful poetry? William McGonagall (1825-1902) has gone down in history as the worst poet of all time. Deserved? You be the judge. This week, Ash is joined by special guest Bella to appraise the life and work of this local cult poet. Howking, incidentally, means digging.  @earreadthis earreadthis@gmail.com facebook.com/earreadthis Music: "Not Drunk" by the Joy Drops.  

Today is Poetry Prose Day on the Happy Thoughts - Positive Affirmations And Audio Stories, podcast. We’ve got a cheeky little poem about a fascinating city - I live not far from there - London, England.It’s by the poet William McGonagall, and titled “Descriptive Jottings of London”. He talks about his adventures and the wonders of this great city.So grab a cup of tea or your favourite beverage and relax for a few moments with this wonderful ode to London!Feel free to add comments,You can also find us here:https://twitter.com/stefsvoicehttps://twitter.com/oraclecards4uhttps://instagram.com/stefsvoice_voiceoverwww.happythoughtsoraclecardreadings.comOur etsy shop to purchase an oracle card reading from an interesting selection of intention types , as well as Handcrafted sacred, intentional crystal jewellery and mala beads-http://BeadedDelightsByStef.etsy.comPositive Affirmations mp3s for children and adults - search for Stefania Lintonbon on Amazon, Google Play and CD baby.https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?k=Stefania+Lintonbon+Visit Our blog - https://www.positiveaffirmationsandaudiostories.comMy podcast - Stefania LintonbonPositive Affirmations and Audio StoriesSelf awareness, self improvement, positive affirmations and uplifting stories - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/stefania-lintonbon/id1257160627https://www.spreaker.com/user/7978536Find us on Spotify as well - Positive Affirmations and Audio Stories

Vi skrider in i finkulturrummet och dammar av en namnkunnig poet. Inte den mest beundrade av historiens skalder, kanske snarare tvärt om, men hellre ökänd än okänd! Sjunk ned i länstolen och rengör öronen, så tar vi dig med på resan som var William McGonagalls liv.

Vi skrider in i finkulturrummet och dammar av en namnkunnig poet. Inte den mest beundrade av historiens skalder, kanske snarare tvärt om, men hellre ökänd än okänd! Sjunk ned i länstolen och rengör öronen, så tar vi dig med på resan som var William McGonagalls liv.

This week we're bringing you BREAKING news (along with the hottest gossip from 1877). We're tackling the 2019 college admissions bribery scandal just days after the story hit the headlines, made famous by the involvement of famous actors Lori Laughlin and Felicity Huffman. You'll also get a healthy dose of history and nonsense as we bring you through the life and tales of William McGonagall, the worst poet in Scotland and maybe the world.

*Explicit Content* This episode is special!!! Let's all learn about William McGonagall, who has been dubbed, the "worst poet in British History".   Happy #PodcastFriday everyone. This is the most UNIQUE episode thus far. I had a dream, the name Billy L. McGonagall came up MULTIPLE times. I thought it was just a funny throwaway name - legit I did not think it was a real name EVER held by a human being.  Than...I asked Alexa, and Sir William Topaz McGonagall's story was revealed yet again for our genration here to revel in!  I became slighlty obsessed with his story, like, I still am to be honest. I want to re-name my gamer tag that I DON'T have, to @BillMcgonagall. That deep.  Anyway, he is not too educated, you will find out why. Thus, his published poetry is littered with error.  Oh poor Bill, I am happy that your work lives on post-humously!  Enjoy y'all. :) Sit back, listen on your drive to work, take your shower, whatever the hell it is you find yourself doing - ENJOY a new episode of Short...Story...Bingo!    Press play, enjoy, like, share, rate, comment, and subscribe! It really helps.   #RandomTwitterFollowerShoutOut @t_manning4   Read more about ol' Billy here: http://www.mcgonagall-online.org.uk/   For more insight on William, click here: https://www.theatlantic.com/video/index/476427/william-mcgonagall-worst-poet-ever/   PLEASE Email ALL of your new stories you want heard, comments or anything you want menitoned, etc... to shortstorybingo@gmail.com

Merry new year to one and all! For our first episode of 2018 we've donned berets, waxed our beards and grabbed the nearest set of tom-toms to share stories of the worst poets in history. Naturally, the king of bad poetry William McGonagall is heavily featured, but we also meet a the Canadian James McIntyre who was quite unreasonably obsessed with cheese and Theophilus Marzials, a man who heard about onomatopoeia once and clearly thought it was the only thing that ever mattered in poetry. We are joined by the erudite Iszi Lawrence - host of the tremendous Z List Dead List podcast and owner of her own tame poet, the marvellous Mr A F Harold. Follow us on Twitter: @worstfoot @bazmcstay @benvandervelde @Iszi_Lawrence

Chaos! No Rules! Anarchy! It's a Michael & Ethan in a Room with Scotch Special! We're going to once again read the first paragraph of two different books and discuss them as if we'd read the whole book! English professors, assign us to your classes.Ethan's book is The Confidence Man by Herman Melville, an oldy but a goody.Michael is a little more with-the-times, bringing The Silent Wife by A. S. A. Harrison, the most popular book of the moment.And this episode's punishment: "Lines in Reply to the Beautiful Poet who Welcomed News of McGonagall’s Departure from Dundee" by William McGonagall.Join the discussion! Go to the Contact page and put "Scotch Talk" in the Subject line. We'd love to hear from you!Coming in one week, season 2, beginning with the discussion of The House of Special Purpose by John Boyne - Read along!Your Hosts: Michael G. Lilienthal (@mglilienthal) andEthan Bartlett (@bjartlett)"Kessy Swings Endless - (ID 349)" by Lobo Loco. Used by permission.

As you wait for the discussion of The House of Special Purpose by John Boyne, we didn't want to leave you totally hanging, so here's a bonus episode, in which we break all the rules!  Rather than read and discuss a whole book, we're going to read the first paragraph of two different books and discuss them as if we'd read the whole book!  Take these episodes to your English teachers. Michael brings the first paragraph of The Eustace Diamonds by Anthony Trollope.  Delightful Victorian tomfoolery! Ethan hopes to talk about the first paragraph of Gravity's Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon.  Light in a post-apocalyptic World War II waste! And this episode's punishment: "The Capture of Havana" by William McGonagall. Join the discussion!  Go to the Contact page and put "Scotch Talk" in the Subject line.  We'd love to hear from you! Coming soon, season 2, beginning with the discussion of The House of Special Purpose by John Boyne - Read along! Your Hosts: Michael G. Lilienthal (@mglilienthal) and Ethan Bartlett (@bjartlett) "Kessy Swings Endless - (ID 349)" by Lobo Loco.  Used by permission.

Get ready to feel great about your poetry from middle school! Hailey teaches Alexis about the worst poet possibly ever, William McGonagall, and has the receipts to prove it. Special thanks from Swing Whale for our music! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Everyone loves and admires a good poem…but what about the bad ones? After discussing his own experience writing terrible poetry, Jacke analyzes the 10 things that make a poem go wrong, assesses the curious role of Scotland and Michigan in developing bad poetry, and reviews some candidates for the worst poet in history, including:    * Jennifer Aniston, whose astonishingly bad love poem to John Mayer graced (disgraced?) the pages of Star magazine;  * James McIntyre, the Canadian poet known as “the Chaucer of Cheese”;  * Julia A. Moore, the “Sweet Singer of Michigan,” whose poems were described as “worse than a Gatling gun” and “rare food for the lunatic,” but who insisted on giving public performances (to her husband’s mortification and Mark Twain’s delight);  * Margaret Cavendish, the seventeenth-century aristocrat whose nature poems took her into the unintentionally comic realm of extreme bad taste (and near cannibalism);    …and many others as well. It’s a celebration of bad poetry… the agony and the ecstasy… the cringeworthy and the triumphant… or, as William McGonagall, one of the best (worst?) of the bad poets might say:  “This episode is very fine / Indeed I think it very fine.”  Show Notes:  We have a special episode coming up – listener feedback! Contact the host at jackewilsonauthor@gmail.com or by leaving a voicemail at 1-361-4WILSON (1-361-494-5766).  You can find more literary discussion at jackewilson.com and more episodes of the series at historyofliterature.com. Check out our Facebook page at facebook.com/historyofliterature. Music Credits: “Handel – Entrance to the Queen of Sheba” by Advent Chamber Orchestra (From the Free Music Archive / CC by SA).     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

William McGonagall has been called "the only truly memorable bad poet in our language," responsible for tin-eared verse that could "give you cauliflower ears just from silent reading": Alas! Lord and Lady Dalhousie are dead, and buried at last, Which causes many people to feel a little downcast; And both lie side by side in one grave, But I hope God in His goodness their souls will save. In this episode of the Futility Closet podcast we'll sample McGonagall's writings, follow the poor poet's sadly heroic wanderings, and wonder whether he may have been in on the joke after all. We'll also consider a South Carolina seventh grader's plea to Ronald Reagan and puzzle over a man's outrageous public behavior. Our segment on William McGonagall, the world's worst poet, is drawn from Norman Watson's beautifully researched 2010 book Poet McGonagall: A Biography. The best online source on McGonagall is Chris Hunt's site McGonagall Online, which contains extensive biographical materials, a map of the poet's travels, and a complete collection of his poems. South Carolina seventh grader Andy Irmo's 1984 letter to Ronald Reagan asking that his room be declared a disaster area appears in Dwight Young's 2007 book Dear Mr. President: Letters to the Oval Office from the Files of the National Archives. Our post about it ran on Aug. 14, 2006. Thanks to listener Nick Madrid for this week's lateral thinking puzzle. You can listen using the player above, or subscribe on iTunes or via the RSS feed at http://feedpress.me/futilitycloset. Many thanks to Doug Ross for the music in this episode. If you have any questions or comments you can reach us at podcast@futilitycloset.com. Thanks for listening!

"Ye Sons of Great Britain! come join with me And sing in praise of the gallant British Armie, That behaved right manfully in the Soudan, At the great battle of Omdurman". So go the opening lines of The Battle of Omdurman by William McGonagall. It was indeed a great battle where the British and Egyptian forces were heavily outnumbered by the Dervishes of the Mahdist leader Abdullah al-Taashi. It involved a gallant British cavalry charge in which Winston Churchill took part, and it was a battle with which the discipline of a modern army won over a vastly larger force with older weapons. As the French historian and writer Hilaire Belloc put it: "Whatever happens, we have got... The Maxim gun, and they have not". Dur: 19mins File: .mp3