The Old Dog Barks Backwards

by Ogden Nash, Robert Binks (Illustrator)

A compilation of verse reveals the American poet's lighthearted view of everyday life

Genres: Poetry, Humor, Fiction, Anthologies

129 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1972

About the author

Frederic Ogden Nash was an American poet well known for his light verse. At the time of his death in 1971, the New York Times said his "droll verse with its unconventional rhymes made him the country's best-known producer of humorous poetry".

Reviews

[Robu-sensei · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ogden Nash's poetry, with its awkward meter and custom rhyming words*, takes some getting used to, but the sheer hilarity makes it well worth the trouble. The Old Dog Barks Backwards is a collection of short poems that will make you laugh. And groan. And scratch your head. Sometimes, all at once.

Best of all, this volume contains my favorite poem of all time:

The Entomorphics

Two insects in an Afric bog
Engaged in meaningful dialogue.
Said one, "Tell what the difference are
"'Twixt a t-s tsar and a c-z czar."
"The same as 'twixt you and I,"
Said the tse-tse to the cze-cze fly.

__________________

*A memorable example is "We'll eat, without undue discouragement / Foods low in cost but high in nouragement" (sadly, not in this compilation).

[sniksnak · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read most of Ogden Nash’s poetry in high school. I found a copy of this hardcover book of poetry on ThriftBooks for under $4 and grabbed it up.
This posthumous collection of verse, published in 1972, pays tribute to his remarkable contributions. It compiles a selection of his renowned poems, celebrated for their witty and playful reflections on the intricacies of everyday life, the peculiarities of human nature, family dynamics, and the subtle absurdities that permeate our existence.
Mr Nash is renowned for his ingenious wordplay, inventive rhymes, and his unparalleled ability to distill profound insights into concise and unforgettable lines. The book’s title draws inspiration from Robert Frost’s succinct poem The Span of Life, using this imagery as a foundation for Mr Nash’s own lighthearted and humorous style.
He specialized in crafting short, memorable verses. This book encompasses various themes, including social types, aging, family, and more.
The collection serves as an exceptional introduction to his oeuvre, which is widely regarded as one of the most prominent humorous poetic voices of the 20th century. It offers laughter, relatable insights, and a refreshing perspective on life’s peculiarities, all delivered with charm and clarity.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

I am generally a big Ogden Nash fan, but this collection was intermittently outdated—some of the poems spoke to a very distinct social/popular culture that just didn't translate 45-50 years later. However, there is enough classic Nash to make it worthwhile the time to read.

[Sunshine Mares · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ridiculous, as it was meant to be.

[Mike Bright · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like to think I have a pretty big vocabulary, and I enjoy playing with words. Nash puts me to shame. I am not enough of a poetry buff to find a lot of deep meaning in Nash's poems, but I certainly enjoy the banter and clever turn of a phrase. He is not above making words up to fit a rhyme scheme, but the results always make perfect sense in context. His poems are just fun.

My only quibble with the book is that it is deeply rooted in a particular historical and cultural setting - 1950's and 1960's American urban upper crust. I'm pretty old, but I didn't even get all the references. This is not a particular problem - more of a warning to the younger set who might be enticed. Come for the wordplay, be prepared to do some Wikipedia searches for names and events.

[Ron · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first Ogden Nash book. It is a short book of his quirky poetry. His poetry isn't for everybody. This was a quick read, and I'll probably try another of his books to see what it is like before giving up on his style not being for me.

[Zoe · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not for me.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like Where the Sidewalk Ends for grown-ups

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book didn't age well. The name dropping and political poems didn't hold up. The silly animal ones are enjoyable as always. I like Ogden Nash, but I didn't care for the majority of this book.

[James Henderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful collection of humorous verse from the pen of Mr. Nash. Saying that seems like stating the obvious. Yet, in studying the humor of Ogden Nash it is possible to learn about the human condition - much as one can learn from elegies or tragic lyrics. The humor may seem light at first and some of it may be no more, but rather than quickly jump from verse to verse by stopping (ala Robert Frost) and looking beyond the surface for the inner meaning one can be moved in new ways by this amazing poet. It strikes me a bit of a cross between Richard Armour and James Thurber in verse. Now is that perverse? I think not, just fun!

[Ruth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ogden Nash writes a peculiar style of light verse, a style that I've always enjoyed. So I don't know what's happened. Very little in this volume seemed to click for me. Maybe I missed out on too many of the outdated cultural references. Maybe I've lost the knack of enjoying his particular brand of clunky rhythm and whimsical rhyme.

For all that, I did enjoy the following poems, some for their titles alone and some for their brilliant literary spoofery:

"But I Could Not Love Thee, Ann, So Much, Loved I Not Honoré More"
"The Collector"
"The Slipshod Scholar Gets Around to Greece"

[Ed Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I probably read this in High School and forgot. But the second time
around it has everythihng, Vietnam war, the beginnings of feminist
movement and Ogden's humor. We need more humor & less angst in
our modern poets that includes myself mumbleing & bitching.
Oh we poets love Death, not me
but Billy Collins pokes fun at the dead in Horoscopes for the Dead
(published 2011)which I am reading now.see page 27 and grave on p.3. You could look it up to paraphrase Casey Stangel, mgr. of NY Yanks

[Mrbuffles · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just remember the title.

[Don Gubler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny poetry.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorites: The Bird Lover and The Madcap Zoologist.

[Tasha]

February 2013