
Impertinent Poems - By - Edmund Vance Cooke - Author of
With Illustrations by - Gordon Ross
A PRE-IMPERTINENCE.
INDEX.
IMPERTINENT POEMS
DEAD MEN'S DUST.
IN NINETEEN HUNDRED AND NOW.
DON'T YOU?
YOU TOO.
THE ETERNAL EVERYDAY.
A mischievous handful of verses invites listeners to reconsider what poetry can be, tossing traditional reverence aside for a breezy, conversational tone. The poet’s tongue‑in‑cheek observations about death, everyday annoyances, and the quirks of modern life ripple through each piece, making the familiar feel fresh. With Gordon Ross’s whimsical illustrations hinted at in the text, the collection feels as lively as a coffee‑shop talk turned lyrical.
The anthology swings from witty critiques of our reading habits—questioning why we line shelves with long‑dead masters—to playful musings on ordinary moments like “Bubble‑Flies” and “The Choice.” Its humor never sacrifices depth; a line about how we die becomes a prompt for reflecting on the choices that shape us. Listeners will find a generous mix of satire, nostalgia, and gentle philosophy, all delivered in a voice that feels both impish and oddly comforting.
Language
en
Duration
~1 hours (68K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Barbara Tozier, Bill Tozier, Josephine Paolucci and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net.
Release date
2010-09-20
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1866–1932
Best remembered for the stirring poem "How Did You Die?", this Canadian-born writer built a wide audience with upbeat, memorable verse. He also became an early radio personality, bringing poetry to listeners in an unusually direct way.
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