Friday

Aug. 6, 1999

a selection of Limericks

by Anonymous

a selection of Limericks

by Gerry Hamil

a selection of Limericks

by Ogden Nash

a selection of Limericks

by Nigel Andrew

Broadcast Date: FRIDAY: August 6, 1999

Poems: A selection of limericks by Gerry Hamil, Nigel Andrew, Ogden Nash, and some anonymous writers, from The Penguin Book of Limericks (Penguin Books).

At 8:15 a.m. on this day in 1945, an American B-29 dropped THE FIRST ATOMIC BOMB, nicknamed "Little Boy," on Hiroshima, Japan. It went off about 1,800 feet above ground and instantly killed around 105, 000 people; another 100,000 died later from radiation burns and poisoning.

It's the birthday in Oxford, England, 1934, of the American science fiction and fantasy writer PIERS ANTHONY, best known for his humorous Xanth series of books: stories set in a magical kingdom where almost everyone, from dragons and nymphs to the unicorns and humans, has a magical ability.

It's the birthday in 1926, Ashland, Pennsylvania, of JANET ASIMOV, writer of the Norby Series of science fiction books for young readers. The series started in the early 1980s, and includes the story of Jeff Wells and his little robot friend Norby.

It's the birthday in Boston, 1909, of children's author, NORMA FARBER, who wrote all kinds of books including nonsense ballads, instructional alphabets, counting stories, all of which were written in rhyme and meant to be read aloud. She is best known for As I Was Crossing the Boston Common, which won the 1976 National Book Award; a turtle narrates the book, and tells about the animals he meets one day as he crosses the Boston Common, creatures that parade by him in alphabetical order.

It's the birthday in Lincolnshire, England, 1809, of poet ALFRED LORD TENNYSON. He is best known for the long poem he dedicated to his best friend Arthur Henry Hallam, "In Memoriam A. H. H."

Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.®

 

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  • “Writers end up writing stories—or rather, stories' shadows—and they're grateful if they can, but it is not enough. Nothing the writer can do is ever enough” —Joy Williams
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