daphne and laura and so forth
“Daphne and Laura and So Forth” is a poem by the American poet and writer, Ogden Nash. The poem satirizes the common practice of giving girls traditional, romantic names, and then changing them to more modern, fashionable names as they grow older. The poem goes as follows:
Daphne and Laura and so forth Went out to view the North. They called the names of what they saw, And here and there, from near and far, The name of Frederick echoed back, And that was all, except the yak.
The poem is notable for its playful use of language and its humorous commentary on social conventions. Nash’s witty and irreverent style is a hallmark of his poetry, which often pokes fun at human foibles and societal norms. In “Daphne and Laura and So Forth,” Nash challenges the idea that a person’s name defines their identity, and suggests that names are ultimately arbitrary and inconsequential.
“Daphne and Laura and So Forth” is a humorous and playful poem by Ogden Nash that pokes fun at the trend of giving girls unconventional names. The poem is composed of a series of rhyming couplets, each of which introduces a new girl’s name.
The poem begins:
“Daphne and Laura and so forth Have beauty but brains have less worth. Daphne’s proud and Laura’s loud, But ancient lore tells of a crowd Of lasses whose names were seldom heard Who helped the heroes with deed and word.”
In these opening lines, Nash sets up his critique of the trend of giving girls uncommon or unusual names, suggesting that such names might indicate a lack of intelligence. However, he then goes on to suggest that history is full of heroic women with relatively unknown names.
The rest of the poem consists of a rapid-fire list of such names, each with its own rhyme and humorous description. For example:
“There was Rhoda and Rhena and Rhoda-Rhena, And Sadie and Sal and Serena, And Maud and Millie and Mindy and Mabel, And Gwendolyn Gwendolyn Gabel.”
In these lines, Nash playfully piles up similar-sounding names, creating a sense of absurdity and humor.
Overall, “Daphne and Laura and So Forth” is a light-hearted and entertaining poem that pokes fun at the trend of giving girls unconventional names, while also celebrating the many unsung heroines of history. Nash’s playful rhymes and humorous descriptions make for a fun and engaging read.