Paralogical Metaphors and Post-Rational Limericks

Inspiration for the following series of Paralogical Limericks came from one of my favorite podcasts, in which guest T. Susan Chang was discussing Tarot, divination and symbolic life with two hosts of This Jungian Life. Among the many esoteric and erudite topics covered, Chang brought up the concept of Paralogical Metaphors. And it was obvious to me that the time for Paralogical Limericks had come.

Unlike more common metaphors, such as a “beacon of hope” or a “ship of fools”, the paralogical metaphor (sometimes called an absolute metaphor or anti-metaphor) puts two entirely unrelated items together to generate a sense of cognitive dissonance. As a tool for trans-rational thinking, these figures of speech help us break free from our ordinary, linear modes of thought. This plants us firmly in the realm of poetry. And thus, the Paralogical Limerick was born.

Like poetry, the definition of a Paralogical Metaphor is neither absolute nor cut and dry. What strikes one person as illogical, another reader might only find to be marginally thought-provoking. It’s a subjective distinction. That said, you may or may not consider the following limericks perfectly paralogical. But I hope they’re at least able to give your brain cells a light tickle.

      If the wood grouse of afternoon tea
      Can ascend from an unsalted sea
              Then why not consent
              To an evening well spent
      And have riddles for dinner with me

      There’s a pillar of primate society
      At the nadir of common propriety
              The left-handed hero
              Does brunch in the bureau
      And clings to the branch of anxiety

      A serpent upstairs on the rafter
      Attempts to unveil the hereafter
              In whispers and velvet
              The acolyte smells it
      The draught of reptilian laughter

      In caverns of unspoken grievances
      Blinded by weightless allegiances
              We pledge to the vulture
              Of nightingale culture
      Who’s hidden from brief inconveniences

      Before I decode the abyss
      There’s an augur I’m loath to dismiss
              To unscramble the plot
              Of a Gordian knot
      As uncertainty mingles with bliss

      Let loose are the hounds of perdition
      Embarked on a rear-facing mission
              That’s fearfully stunning
              For those who’ve been running
      Amok in the throes of contrition

Further Reading

If you enjoyed these unconventional and thought-provoking limericks, please consider purchasing one of my books or subscribing to the blog. I’m also available for private, custom-ordered limericks. And you might want to check out some of these popular articles.

• Limericks and Poetry about Mental Health
• Postmodern Limericks and Mixed Metaphors
• Limericks about Existentialism
• Poems and Limericks about “Moby Dick”
• The History of Limericks from Shakespeare to Spirit Rock