SYNTACTIC AMBIGUITY 1

Michael Edwards

 

 

The sign by the lifts:

‘Do not use in case of fire’

The lifts are not used.

 

  • Author: Michael Edwards (Offline Offline)
  • Published: June 2nd, 2017 00:03
  • Comment from author about the poem: I do love signs in public places which can be read in different ways. This one is quite common. I have written a few of these in haiku style - plus another cartoon of Barrington and Athelstan for a Friday smile.
  • Category: Unclassified
  • Views: 18
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Comments +

Comments7

  • Michael Edwards

    Looks like Cedric's got toothache - I wonder if the fairy will be visiting him.

  • swingline

    While visiting a white racist antigay bar in America the English tourists saw a sign that said "No Fags Allowed" and immediately left their cigarettes on the bus .

    • Michael Edwards

      Mind you not many smoke these days thanks to all the anti-smoking regulations.

    • orchidee

      Oh lol. And who are Bill Stickers and Bill Posters? They are going to be prosecuted when they get caught!

      • Michael Edwards

        They are both in the jail at Gnomesville.

      • Goldfinch60

        The English language is a minefield of inconsistency when not written, correctly.

        • Michael Edwards

          Such a rich language - no wonder it's the world's leader.

        • P.H.Rose

          Brilliant Michael
          I love swingline's

          • Michael Edwards

            So do I - some of the signs are just so funny even the intentional ones - I recall a notice in the corridor outside my office which read 'Do Not Remove This Notice' - it was there for years.

            • P.H.Rose

              Ha ha.. Brilliant

            • BRIAN & ANGELA

              THANKS MICHAEL ~ FOR THOSE OF US STILL WORKING ~ Cartoons and ambiguities make FRIDAY more bearable ! I was researching the "Wisdom of Kentucky" and came across this sign outside a Church !

              BEST SAUSAGE SUPPER
              IN ST LOUIS
              COME AND EAT
              PASTOR THOMAS RESSLER

              I knew they all intermarried but I didn't
              realise they still pracised CANABALISM !

              Thanks for sharing BRIAN.

              • Michael Edwards

                Thanks Brian - there are some brilliant examples on the internet - might take a look - never know might be encouraged to write an odd ode or two - That reminds me - do you remember Cyril Fletcher - I loved him but he seems sadly overlooked these days - certainly better than Pam Ayres

                • BRIAN & ANGELA

                  Thanks MICHAEL ~ bit before my time but paradoxically I love PAM EYRES and love her live shows\' She is very generous ~ i asked her about poetic license when reciting her poems at a Poetry Reading. She indicated that some lines only scanned with a Pam Eyres accent (rural Oxfordshire) which added or subtracted syllables and also they are mostly written from a feminine point of view. She said \"You can alter or add a verse ~ masculine a poem or even emasculate it ~ BUT ~ however bad you maul it ~ you must always say that ORIGINALLY it was crafted by PAM EYRES ! Some well known poets are not so generous and don\'t appreciate parodies of their poetry. I have proposed PAM as the next Poet Laureate when Caroline retires. I went to a POETRY READING by Andrew Motion ~ Good poets but a very dull man PAM & BEN are great presenters of CRAZY Poetry ! John Betjeman was also a bit dour reading his Poetry ~ I have seen videos & tapes. The one i would have loved to have heard ~ In my Friend's Drawing Room in Edinburgh ~ was Robbie Burns ! I have seen recording of Cyril and remember he called his Poems ODD ODES ! I was going to use that as a pseudonym but chose BRIANSODES instead ! My other choice for PL is Benjamin Zephaniah or Roger McGough ! BRIAN

                  • Michael Edwards

                    Thanks Brian. Your comments on PA are interesting - must take another look at her work.
                    Love JB and RMcG and also John Hegley.

                  • Augustus

                    When I was a kid the "little rat" that brought you a penny or a nickel for a tooth placed under the pillow. Louisiana was influenced by the French. Unfortunately these quaint distinctions have been lost. I love your little original characters. We use elevators in stead of lifts. Nice fiery uplifting haiku.

                    • Michael Edwards

                      Thanks - pleased you like my little characters - just simple inoffensive humour.



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