Betsy Devine: Funny ha-ha and/or funny peculiar

Just got home–soooooo sleepy–I’ll blog more about our northern adventures but first I want to jump back to Stockholm University’s ceremony of the Ever Jumping and Smiling Green Frog on December 13–one of the most fun parties we’ve ever enjoyed.

As the youngest laureate, Frank discovered (after the first few drinking songs and toasts with aquavit) that he would be making a midnight thank-you speech. He scribbled 7 pairs of rhyming words on a paper napkin and delivered the following:

I’m well aware that the primary virtue of a speech like this is brevity. I couldn’t come up with a worthy haiku, so you’ll have to settle for a sonnet. The sonnet is a strict form, that requires fourteen lines. Here goes.

When studying physics, who would have thunk,
It’d lead to public sonnetizing, quasi-drunk
After days of partying and eating like a hog
Climaxed by jumping around like a frog.

Through it all I’ve found that I’m taking a liking
For living life large, like a Viking.
So, when I return to my peaceful local village
I’ll be tempted to indulge in some looting and pillage.

But you’ve taught me how Swedes got past doing wrongs:
By investing time, instead, in learning drinking songs.
On the surface everyone seems calm and nice
But beneath, in reserve, there is plenty of spice.

For this lesson, frog, and fun: Thanks a lot!
That’s fourteen lines, it’s all I’ve got.

Footnote: We are now home in our peaceful village, but I now want sleep a lot more than looting and pillage…