• Save

The Muddlehead – The Poem

I knew a man from Petushkee
As muddleheaded as could be.

He always got mixed up with clothes;
He wore his mittens on his toes,
Forgot his collar in his haste,
And tied his tie around his waist.

What a muddle head was he,
That man who lived in Petushkee!

They told him as he went about:
“You’ve got u’r coat on inside out!”
And when they saw his hat, they said:
“You’ve put a saucepan on your head!”

What a muddle head was he,
That man who lived in Petushkee!

At lunch he scratched a piece of bread,
And spread some butter on his head.
He put his walking stick to bed,
And he stood in the rack instead.

What a muddle head was he,
That man who lived in Petushkee!

He walked upto a tram one day
And climbed in very sprightly;
Conductor thought that he would pay,
Instead he said politely:

“Parding your beggon,
Kister Monductor,
I’m off for a week’s vacation;
I stop you to beg your cramway tar
As soon as we reach the station.
“Conductor got a fright
And didn’t sleep that nite.

What a muddle head was he,
That man who lived in Petushkee!

He rushed into the first café:
“A railway ticket please, One way.”
And at the ticket office said:
“A slice of tea and a cup of bread.”

What a muddle head was he,
That man who lived in Petushkee!

He passed the man collecting the fares,
And entered a carriage awaiting repairs,
That stood on a siding, all by itself.
Half of his luggage, he put on a shelf,
The rest on the floor, his coat on his lap
And settled himself for a bit of a nap.

All at once he raised his head,
“I must have been asleep”- he said.
“Hey, what stop is this?” he cried”
Petushkee,” a voice replied.

Once again he closed his eyes
And dreamt he was in Paradise.
When he woke, he looked about,
Raised the window and leaned out.

“I’ve seen this place before, I believe,
Is it Kharkov or is it Kiev?
Tell me where I am,” he cried.
“In Petushkee”, a voice replied.

And so again he settled down
And dreamt the world was upside down
When he woke, he looked about,
Raised the window and looked out.

“I seem to know this station too,
Is it Nalchik or Baku?
Tell me what its called,” he cried.
“Petushkee’ a voice replied.

Up he jumped: “It’s a crime!
I’ve been riding all this time,
And here I am where I began!
That’s no way to treat a man!’

What a muddle head was he,
That man who lived in Petushkee!

by Ogden Nash

Do You Remember That Story?

Do you remember that story, when Mr. Bean very neatly prepared his sandwich sitting in a park? Even today, when coronavirus is hovering over the world’s head like a monster, this unhygienic video doesn’t scare. It still is so funny.

Or, do you remember the story when he shopped so much and loaded all his things in his car? He had no place to sit. He sat above the chair loaded on the roof of his car and safely drove home.

Do you remember that engineering marvel created to help Charlie Chaplin eat his dinners and have soups, that turned into a technical glitch?

There are some stories that are so beautifully presented, they leave an imprint on your hearts and minds. ‘The Muddlehead‘ is one such poem (story).

But I have a question, who is your favorite? Mr. Bean or Charlie Chaplin?

Ogden Nash

• Save

Frederic Ogden Nash (August 19, 1902 – May 19, 1971) was an American poet well known for his light verse, of which he wrote over 500 pieces. With his unconventional rhyming schemes, he was declared the country’s best-known producer of humorous poetry.

To read more about Ogden Nash, click here.

Important Words to be Noted

• Parding your Beggon! instead of ‘Begging your Pardon’.
• Kister Monductor! instead of ‘Mister Conductor’.
• Cramway Tar! instead of ‘Tramway Car’.

The Muddlehead – Poem Summary / Analysis

The Muddlehead is a poem about a man who remains mentally confused, a little bit insane. He has a problem making sane decisions. He wears his clothes the wrong way, speaks weird language, creates new words, is asking for wrong favors at wrong places. He is the man who makes everyone laugh. His story is everyone’s favorite.

He is the man who lives in Petushkee.

To read more famous poems by the finest writers ever, click here.

• Save