The giant, and other nonsense verse

audiobook

The giant, and other nonsense verse

by Albert W. (Albert William) Smith

EN·~52 minutes·17 chapters

Chapters

17 total

The Giant

0:42

THE GIANT

3:13

THE ARCTIC BALL

2:33

A TROPICAL AFTERNOON TEA

4:13

THE TIDES

0:42

NIGHT AND DAY

2:11

FUNNYLAND

12:52

A MARSH LYRIC

2:49

THE BOY AND THE BASILISK

7:14

RETRIBUTION

0:22

Description

In this collection the poet conjures a towering Giant who stirs the Milky Way like a soup, cooks comets for a broom, and walks across continents as if they were stepping‑stones. The verses tumble between ridiculous feasts, cosmic mishaps and playful explanations for rain, earthquakes and tides. The rhythm is quick, the rhyme bright, inviting listeners to picture each absurd image as it unfurls.

Other pieces turn frozen seas into ballroom floors, where North Wind blows a trombone and seals waltz with whales while ice‑cream blows like bubbles. A tropical afternoon tea shares the same cheeky tone, treating breezes as mischievous hosts and the West Wind as a shy dancer. Each poem balances silliness with a gentle nod to natural wonders, making the absurd feel oddly familiar.

The verses are short enough to enjoy in a single sitting yet rich enough to spark the imagination again and again. Listeners will find themselves chuckling at the Giant’s culinary mishaps and tapping their feet to the Arctic revelry, all while the poet’s clever wordplay keeps the ear delighted.

Details

Language

en

Duration

~52 minutes (50K characters)

Release date

Jan 11, 2026

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

About the author

Albert W. (Albert William) Smith

Albert W. (Albert William) Smith

1856–1942

An influential mechanical engineer and educator, this early Cornell graduate helped shape engineering teaching in the United States and wrote practical books on machine design that reached generations of students.

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