A Space Child's Mother Goose Frederick Windsor with quirky illustrations by Marion Parry

reviewed by Ian Woolf

As a science geek in High School my favourite poetry all came from "The Space Child's Mother Goose", light witty verses by Frederick Windsor with quirky illustrations by Marion Parry. There was one copy at the local library, and nothing anywhere else, it has long been out of print. The "Annals of Improbable Research" is a journal of wit, silliness and sarcasm for those with a love of science. I was pleased last year to find them publishing a poem per issue from "The Space Child's Mother Goose", and that they were trying to find a new publisher. Purple House Press have put this wonderful book back in print, and I ordered a copy as soon as it became available. The book has forty-five illustrated poems, along with a glossary of difficult words at the back labelled "The answers". I have a selection of the poems for you here, but I urge you to seek out purplehousepress.com on the internet, or ask your library to buy a copy so you can enjoy the illustrations as well. Probable-Possible, my black hen, She lays eggs in the Relative When. She doesn't lay eggs in the Positive Now Because she's unable to Postulate How. Scattered amongst the other poems, the author has translations of this poem in French, German, Greek, an African language, and Mandarin Chinese, all of which rhym in the same places, followed by the literal translation back again into English. Then there are the variations on old favourites: Little Miss Muffet Sits on her tuffet In a nonchalant sort of a way. With her force field around her The spider, the bounder, Is not in the picture today. Little Jack Horner Sits in a corner Extracting cube roots to infinity, An assignment for boys That will minimize noise And produce a more peaceful vicinity, Solomon Grundy Walked on Monday Rode on Tuesday Motored Wednesday Planed on Thursday Rocketed Friday Spaceship Saturday Time Machine Sunday Where is the end for Solomon Grundy? And finally: This is the Theory Jack built. This is the Flaw That lay in the Theory Jack built. This is the Mummery Hiding the Flaw That lay in the Theory that Jack built. This is the Summary Based on the Mummery Hiding the Flaw That lay in the Theory that Jack built. This is the Constant K That saved the Summary Based on the Mummery Hiding the Flaw That lay in the Theory that Jack built. This is the Erudite Verbal Haze Cloaking Constant K That saved the Summary Based on the Mummery Hiding the Flaw That lay in the Theory that Jack built. This is the Turn of a Plausible Phrase That thickened the Erudite Verbal Haze Cloaking Constant K That saved the Summary Based on the Mummery Hiding the Flaw That lay in the Theory that Jack built. This is the Chaotic Confusion and Bluff That hung on the Turn of a Plausible Phrase That thickened the Erudite Verbal Haze Cloaking Constant K That saved the Summary Based on the Mummery Hiding the Flaw That lay in the Theory that Jack built. This is the Cybernetics and Stuff That covered Chaotic Confusion and Bluff That hung on the Turn of a Plausible Phrase That thickened the Erudite Verbal Haze Cloaking Constant K That saved the Summary Based on the Mummery Hiding the Flaw That lay in the Theory that Jack built. This is the button to Start the Machine To make with the Cybernetics and Stuff To cover Chaotic Confusion and Bluff That hung on the Turn of a Plausible Phrase That thickened the Erudite Verbal Haze Cloaking Constant K That saved the Summary Based on the Mummery Hiding the Flaw That lay in the Theory that Jack built. This is the Space Child with Brow Serene Who Pushed the Button to Start the Machine That made with the Cybernetics and Stuff Without Confusion, exposing the Bluff That hung on the Turn of a Plausible Phrase And, shredding the Erudite Verbal Haze Cloaking Constant K Wrecked the Summary Based on Mummery Hiding the Flaw And Demolished the Theory that Jack built.