Piffle Poffle

[Lord Panda]

Has anyone heard of a poem which contains the lines "Have you ever met a Piffle Poffle/with thirty seven toes/ and eyes of an enormous size/ and a nose that grows and grows" [or something like that]? Who wrote it? Where can I find a copy?

[mozzer]

I'm guessing, but it sounds like Edward Lear. If so, there should be a collection in a bookshop near you!

[horseman]

You have whetted my appetitie and I am on the hunt, but I have got a horrible feeling that the none of the actual phrases you have written are 100 per cent correct. Can you remember any of the lines exactly? If you can, then post it as answer to your own question and I shall delve again.

[MistyLady]

The Pobble who has no toes could be the answer, it was written by Lear but I am not sure of the full verse.

[bazzer]

I favour Lear and "The Pobble who had no toes" It's about a bloke who had no toes who tried to get them to grow by keeping his nose warm

[Joan Million]

The Piffle Poffle is a rhyme my daughter Tracy learned at school.   Ring her on [phone].  She knows all the words.

Written by:  Lodge, Catherine & Milne in 1980

If you ever see a creature with thirty seven toes and eyes of an enormous size and a nose which grows and grows, be on your best behaviour and treat him with great care, which means refrain from laughing at the colour of his hair, in which case he might take you home with him to have tea in his lair.   etc.

[Joan Million]

My daughter Tracy learned this at school.

The Piffle Poffle, written by

Lodge, Catherine & Milne

 

If you ever see a creature with thirty seven toes, and eyes of an enormous size and a nose which grows and grows, be on your best behaviour and treat him with great care, which means refrain from laughing at the colour of his hair, in which case he might take you home with him to have tea in his lair.  Do not mention the fact that he is green, nor that he is slightly large he likes to think he's lean.  etc. etc.

[Chudders]

The poem is published in a book called Happy Landings by Zebra publishers. It was written by a 12 year old girl called Catherine.

If you ever see a creature with 37 toes,

And eyes of an enormous size,

And a nose that grows and grows;

Be on your best behaviour and treat him with great care,

Which means refrain from laughing at the colour of his hair.

And he might take you home with him to have tea in his lair.

In which case do not mention the fact that he is green,

Nor that he's slightly plump,

He likes to think he's lean.

Pretend you haven't noticed his 37 toes

And say how most convienent,

To have a nose which grows.

Never ever tell him that his mouth is rather wide, or you might get a close look at its reddish black inside.

If you do not ask him, why he eats without a knife,

Then in the piffle poffle,

You could have a friend for life.

That's as best as I can remeber it!

[kellynat]

Hi LP

I was read this poem alot when I was little.

If you ever met a creature with thirty seven toes,
And eyes of an enormous size
And a nose that grows and grows
...............
Be on your best behaviour
And treat him with good care
Which means refrain from commenting on the colour of his hair
..............
And in the Piffle Poffle you'll have a friend for life.

Can't remember all the bits inbetween well enough and I think it originates from a childrens song/rhyme but I will ask my parents where they know it from and get back to you

[Papagena]

I wrote this poem when I was 12! It was an entry to a poetry competition run by Elizabethan magazine (and yes, I was influenced by Edward Lear!). The poem was subsequently published in a children's collection called Happy Landings in 1974. I'm amazed to see someone enquiring about it.
Here is the poem:
The Piffle Poffle

If you ever see a creature with thirty seven toes
And eyes of an enormous size
And a nose which grows and grows
Be on your best behaviour
And treat him with great care
Which means refrain from laughing
At the colour of his hair
And he might take you home with him
To have tea in his layer
In which case, do not mention the fact that he is green
Nor that he is slightly plump
(He likes to think he�s lean)
Pretend you haven�t noticed
His thirty seven toes
And say �How most convenient
To have a nose which grows!�
But never ever tell him that his mouth is rather wide
Or you might get a close look at
His reddish black inside
If you do not ask him why he eats without a knife
Then in the Piffle Poffle
You have a friend for life!