The Arts Babblative and Scribblative

The Arts Babblative and Scribblative
Christopher Bogart

“The arts babblative and scribblative.”
Colloquies on the Progress and Prospects of Society, No. 1, pt. 2
Robert Southey (1829)

Have I been a professor of old Bob Southey’s arts
Of the babblative and scribblative?
Or was my clime more the nursery rhyme of
Wynken, Blynken and Nod?

Like the fourth, not-so famous, Dutch sailor,
I, too, set sail early one childhood night
from a river of bright crystal light,
with high hopes of reaching the famed sea of dew.

My own journey began,
not in old wooden shoes,
or even in a pea green boat,
but in the deep blue waters of words.

I launched life afloat
on a sea of these words,
words I babbled, words I scribbled,
but always words used,
to instruct, to convince
my all listeners
of knowledge,
of thought,
and of what I believed.

However, I taught,
not with Bob Southey’s reason,
but in the passionate fantasy
of nursery rhyme,
while my students, often times,
to my sailor’s dismay,
seemed only able
to manage
a wink,
a blink,
and a nod.