PANDEMIC DIARY

HIGGLEDY PIGGLEDY

October 16, 2020

Let’s have some fun!

Higgledy Piggeldy is a poetic verse form in double dactyl format. Invented in 1951 by Anthony Hecht and Paul Pascal, HP has a strict structure, more difficult to write and more formal than a limerick, usually meant to be humorous or ironic.

[from Wikipedia’s complex definition] There must be two stanzas, each comprising three lines of dactylic dimeter ( ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘ ˘ ) followed by a line consisting of just a choriamb ( ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ). The last lines of these two stanzas must rhyme. Further, the first line of the first stanza is repetitive nonsense, and the second line of the first stanza is the subject of the poem, which in the purest instances of the form is a double-dactylic proper noun. There is also a requirement for at least one line, preferably the second line of the second stanza, to be entirely one double dactyl word. [for further examples by the best — https://www.math.wisc.edu/~robbin/Higgeldy.txt]

It looks like this to my simple mind:
Repetitive nonsense [Higgledy Piggledy]: 2 x 3 syllables; 1st syllable of each emphasized
Subject of the poem: 2 x 3 syllables like line 1
Have at it: 2 x 3 syllables like line 2
Finish your thought: 1: 1: 2.

6 - syllables
Usually one word with six - syllables, although you use a 6 syllable word in lines 1 or 2.
Bring it home: 6 syllable like line 1
Close with a rhyme to the fourth line of the first stanza 1: 1: 2.
—Remember this is supposed to be humorous—

The following are my creations.

Higgledy Piggeldy
fuck the Republicans
boorish old white men who
fart on command
Antediluvian
misanthropoligists
Trump calls to order, his
blowhards jug band.

Higgleski Piggleski
Putin’s name - Vladimir
Vladimir Vladimir
His given and middle
So repetitiously
imperialistically
has Donald Trump’s fat ass
on a hot griddle.

Higgledy Piggledy
Horrid Mitch McConnell
quadruple-chinned golem
So evil and vile
Lifted sanctions on Russia
unceremoniously
his soul sold to donors
a pile of bile.

I have had quite the difficult time taking my head out of the mire, turmoil and uncertainty surrounding the forthcoming election. I haven’t felt at the top of my game — lolling around hoping for it to be November 4th…and worthy of celebration.

Have fun with these and if I get a few I will publish them.