Say “hullo” to Oswald Spengler,
The philosopher of doom.
Step out of your offices
And listen to his prophecies
And you’ll be overcome with gloom.
Say “hullo” to Oswald Spengler,
Sit with him and drink some wine.
Listen to him quoting Goethe
As you look out on the Erde,
And watch the West decline.
Say “hullo” to Oswald Spengler,
World’s first Prussian Socialist;
He called for interactions
Between these sep’rate factions,
And alas, he got just what he wished!
Say “good-bye” to Oswald Spengler;
He’s a rather Gloomy Gus.
I don’t like him, nor need you,
And I think it’s also true
He would not think much of us.
I got the idea for this poem from listening to the They Might Be Giants song “Meet James Ensor”. I like the idea of a poem about meeting a historical figure.
I read a lot of Spengler in college. I find him fascinating, because it’s interesting to see that a man who was clearly amazingly intelligent could end up thinking of some really terrible ideas.
Enjoyed 🙂
Thank you!
Right On!
Glad you liked it. I am kind of proud of the “Erde/Goethe” rhyme.
Very clever. I may steal your idea. : )
Well, like I said, I’m stealing TMBG’s idea to begin with, so go for it. “Imitation is the sincerest flattery”, after all.