Comic and Curious Verse

Vintage Penguin. #D19. Comic and Curious Verse, collected by J.M. Cohen for Penguin, is a spirited anthology that celebrates the eccentric, playful and mischievous side of English-language poetry. Cohen ranges widely across periods and styles, gathering nonsense rhymes, parodies, epigrams, ballads and satirical oddities chosen for their wit, surprise or sheer peculiarity. The collection balances well-known favourites with unexpected discoveries, each piece included for its ability to amuse, puzzle or delight rather than for any solemn literary purpose. It’s a lively, good-humoured volume that showcases the long, inventive tradition of comic and curious verse.