Ogden Nash

Frederic Ogden Nash (August 19, 1902 – May 19, 1971) was an American poet best known for writing pithy, funny, light verse.

Biography

Nash was born in Rye, New York. His father owned and operated an import-export company, and because of business obligations, the family relocated often.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1920, Nash entered Harvard University, only to drop out a year later. He worked his way through a series of jobs, eventually landing a position as an editor at Doubleday publishing house, where he first began to write poetry.

Related Topics:
1920 - Harvard University - Doubleday

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1931 he published his first collection of poems, Hard Lines, earning him national recognition. Some of his poems reflected an anti-establishment feeling. For example, one verse, entitled Common Sense, asks:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:Why did the lord give us agility,

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:If not to evade responsibility?

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

When Nash wasn’t writing poems, he made guest appearances on comedy and radio shows and toured the United States and England, giving lectures at colleges and universities.

Related Topics:
Comedy - Radio - United States - England - Universities

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Nash was regarded respectfully by the literary establishment, and his poems were frequently anthologized even in serious collections such as Selden Rodman's 1946 A New Anthology of Modern Poetry.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Nash was the lyricist for the Broadway musical One Touch of Venus, collaborating with librettist S. J. Perelman and composer Kurt Weill. The show included the notable song "Speak Low (When You Speak Love)."

Related Topics:
S. J. Perelman - Kurt Weill

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Nash died in 1971 and is interred in North Hampton, New Hampshire.

Related Topics:
1971 - North Hampton, New Hampshire

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~