Literary Funny Poems

You may be concerned that the literary funny poems will be exceptionally high-brow, but in reality they're a wonderfully mixed bag. The literary parodies may assume some prior knowledge of classic and contemporary poetry, but can still be enjoyed as humorous poems in a state of blissful literary ignorance. Equally, some literary types might argue that there is a superabundance of distinctly low-brow, and frequently rude, nursery rhyme parodies.

As a counterbalance, we've included Max's often painfully funny poems about the process of writing and the lowly status of the author, together with his nostalgic poems, which include a magnificent pastiche in the style of Dylan Thomas.

Literary Parodies

A series of parodies of famous (and some slightly less famous) poems by Max Scratchmann. Funny, clever and incisive, a really good parody produces a real frisson of excitement and bestows a feeling of literary superiority on the cognoscenti.

Nursery Rhyme Parodies

Most humorous poets turn their hand at some stage to nursery rhyme parodies, which means there are as many feeble examples in this well tilled field as there are lame and lamentable limericks. Max's nursery rhyme parodies are altogether different - offbeat, inscrutable and occasionally dirty - and much more satisfying. There are also currently only four examples, which is about as many as most right-minded readers can stomach.

Rude Nursery Rhymes

Paul Curtis' rude nursery rhyme are traditional English nursery rhymes reworked for a contemporary audience. The collection includes funny and slightly risqué nursery rhyme parodies, together with one or two poems that are either very rude or distinctly dirty, depending upon your sensitivities in such matters.

Poems About Writing

The writer's lot is not always a happy one, as we discover in Max's series of poems about authors, poets, publishers and all things literary.

Nostalgic Poems

A selection of gently humorous poems which reflect on the events, institutions and attitudes of the latter half of the 20th century. From family holidays at the English seaside to black and white television, the past is portrayed both honestly and affectionately.