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Poem
April 9, 1940
The Key West Citizen
Key West, Monroe County, Florida
What is this article about?
Humorous poem from 1940 listing whimsical collective nouns for groups of ships, animals, people, and objects, poking fun at the inconsistencies of English language terminology.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
TUESDAY, APRIL 9, 1940
WHAT A LANGUAGE!
A flock of ships is called a fleet,
A fleet of sheep is called a flock.
A flock of girls is called a bevy,
A bevy of wolves is called a pack.
A pack of thieves is called a gang,
A gang of angels is called a host.
A host of porpoise is called a shoal,
A shoal of fish is called a school.
A school of buffalo is called a herd,
A herd of seals is called a pod.
A pod of whales is called a gam,
A gam of lions is called a pride.
A pride of children is called a troop,
A troop of partridge is called a covey.
A covey of beauties is called a galaxy,
A galaxy of ruffians is called a horde.
A horde of rubbish is called a heap,
A heap of oxen is called a drove.
A drove of blackguards is called a mob,
A mob of worshippers is called a congregation.
A congregation of theatergoers is called an audience.
An audience of peacocks is called a muster.
A muster of doves is called a flight,
A flight of larks is called an exaltation.
And if they are starlings it's murmuration.
A murmuration of bees is called a swarm.
A swarm of foxes is called a skulk.
A skulk of pigs is called a stye.
A stye of dogs is called a kennel.
A kennel of cats is called a nuisance.—Baltimore Sun.
WHAT A LANGUAGE!
A flock of ships is called a fleet,
A fleet of sheep is called a flock.
A flock of girls is called a bevy,
A bevy of wolves is called a pack.
A pack of thieves is called a gang,
A gang of angels is called a host.
A host of porpoise is called a shoal,
A shoal of fish is called a school.
A school of buffalo is called a herd,
A herd of seals is called a pod.
A pod of whales is called a gam,
A gam of lions is called a pride.
A pride of children is called a troop,
A troop of partridge is called a covey.
A covey of beauties is called a galaxy,
A galaxy of ruffians is called a horde.
A horde of rubbish is called a heap,
A heap of oxen is called a drove.
A drove of blackguards is called a mob,
A mob of worshippers is called a congregation.
A congregation of theatergoers is called an audience.
An audience of peacocks is called a muster.
A muster of doves is called a flight,
A flight of larks is called an exaltation.
And if they are starlings it's murmuration.
A murmuration of bees is called a swarm.
A swarm of foxes is called a skulk.
A skulk of pigs is called a stye.
A stye of dogs is called a kennel.
A kennel of cats is called a nuisance.—Baltimore Sun.
What sub-type of article is it?
Epigram
What themes does it cover?
Satire Society
What keywords are associated?
Collective Nouns
English Language
Humorous Verse
Animals Groups
People Groups
What entities or persons were involved?
—Baltimore Sun.
Poem Details
Title
What A Language!
Author
—Baltimore Sun.
Subject
Collective Nouns In English
Form / Style
Rhymed Couplets
Key Lines
A Flock Of Ships Is Called A Fleet,
A Fleet Of Sheep Is Called A Flock.
A Kennel Of Cats Is Called A Nuisance.