# Dr. Seuss' lazy rhymes **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 21, 2011, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-seuss-lazy-rhymes/582663 "2011-05-21T07:44:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2011, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-seuss-lazy-rhymes/582663/1 "2011-05-21T07:44:29Z")
A lot of his stuff is great, but sometimes he just makes shit up to fit the rhyme. Is that talent? It just seems lazy. Example: At our house, we open cans. We have to open many cans. And that is why we have a Zans. A Zans for cans is very good. Have you a Zans for cans? You should. Zans? Really? My daughter listens to these books and I cringe when I hear rhymes using the names of people or fictional creatures. ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2011, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-seuss-lazy-rhymes/582663/2 "2011-05-21T09:03:12Z")
I thought everyone had a Zans for cans They’re also good for pots and pans And when you need to Zans your shoes What else could you possibly use? ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2011, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-seuss-lazy-rhymes/582663/3 "2011-05-21T09:36:03Z")
It’s a fun way to show beginning readers the versatility of language. Lighten up, Francis. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2011, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-seuss-lazy-rhymes/582663/4 "2011-05-21T12:31:00Z")
Try reciting it without flungers, kap-dabblers and smendlers. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2011, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-seuss-lazy-rhymes/582663/5 "2011-05-21T12:34:41Z")
Kids find them funny, usually. They’re also very good for helping kids learn to read - it makes them sit up and notice the onset-and-rime structure of those sorts of simple words. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2011, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-seuss-lazy-rhymes/582663/6 "2011-05-21T12:42:34Z")
> [@Shakester](#): > > I thought everyone had a Zans for cans > They’re also good for pots and pans > And when you need to Zans your shoes > What else could you possibly use? I would use Ballaballoos Cuz Ballaballoos are good for shoes Though I admit when it comes to cans Nothing can beat the strength of Zans. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2011, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-seuss-lazy-rhymes/582663/7 "2011-05-21T16:03:17Z")
Till they start arguing that Zans is a real word 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Pyper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Pyper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pyper)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2011, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-seuss-lazy-rhymes/582663/8 "2011-05-21T16:14:32Z")
A large part of _One Fish, Two Fish_ consists of poems about fictional creatures with silly names that happen to rhyme with their purpose. I think it’s called a joke. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![classyladyhp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b5ac83/32.png) [@classyladyhp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/classyladyhp)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2011, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-seuss-lazy-rhymes/582663/9 "2011-05-21T16:28:02Z")
Zans for cans are really neat They even double as a seat Zans for cans are pretty cool If you don’t have one you’re a fool I never really like Dr. Seuss. The only book I can tolerate is _Green Eggs and Ham_ ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2011, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-seuss-lazy-rhymes/582663/10 "2011-05-21T16:42:12Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > Till they start arguing that Zans is a real word 🙂 ‘It’s only a real word in Dr Seuss. Other people don’t use it.’ That’s for those too young to notice that it isn’t a real word, which most kids from about 4 or 5 would - the context makes it obvious that it’s a joke, and kids do get it; otherwise, they wouldn’t find it funny, and it would just be a story about a tin-opener. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2011, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-seuss-lazy-rhymes/582663/11 "2011-05-21T17:33:35Z")
> [@classyladyhp](#): > > Zans for cans are really neat > They even double as a seat > Zans for cans are pretty cool > If you don’t have one you’re a fool > > I never really like Dr. Seuss. The only book I can tolerate is _Green Eggs and Ham_ So you like _Green Eggs and Ham_, do you? Where and how do you like it most? In a house? With a mouse? In a box? With a fox? In a boat? With a goat? Here? There? Anywhere? C’mon, what are your favorite conditions for reading that book? With a Zans, maybe? ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2011, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-seuss-lazy-rhymes/582663/12 "2011-05-21T18:00:25Z")
Yeah, and what the fuck is a jabberwock anyway? :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2011, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-seuss-lazy-rhymes/582663/13 "2011-05-21T18:15:46Z")
It’s a kind of cake, isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2011, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-seuss-lazy-rhymes/582663/14 "2011-05-21T18:26:38Z")
Shakespeare made up words, too, but no one complains about him…[/mock whine] ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2011, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-seuss-lazy-rhymes/582663/15 "2011-05-21T19:02:05Z")
I quickly have to find a rhyme. My publisher gives me a real hard time. That’s why I invented the Zime. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2011, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-seuss-lazy-rhymes/582663/16 "2011-05-21T19:13:39Z")
_Zans_? Don’t even get me started on _Sneetches_! ---
**Author:** ![Pyper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Pyper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pyper)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2011, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-seuss-lazy-rhymes/582663/17 "2011-05-22T00:14:41Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > _Zans_? Don’t even get me started on _Sneetches_! Now the star-bellied sneetches had bellies with stars, The plain-bellied sneetches had none upon thars. Thars? Heh. ---
**Author:** ![3\_20\_59\_or\_bust](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/47e85d/32.png) [@3\_20\_59\_or\_bust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3_20_59_or_bust)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2011, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-seuss-lazy-rhymes/582663/18 "2011-05-22T00:24:32Z")
> [@classyladyhp](#): > > Zans for cans are really neat > They even double as a seat > Zans for cans are pretty cool > If you don’t have one you’re a fool > > I never really like Dr. Seuss. The only book I can tolerate is _Green Eggs and Ham_ Good thing Dr. Seuss is part of the test to separate aliens from humans. Have a nice flight back to your home planet. ---
**Author:** ![Suil\_Dubh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85f322/32.png) [@Suil\_Dubh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suil_Dubh)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2011, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-seuss-lazy-rhymes/582663/19 "2011-05-22T02:56:15Z")
> [@classyladyhp](#): > > I never really like Dr. Seuss.\* You never like the Dr. Seuss? His rhymes are lame, is your excuse? You do not like him with a goose? You do not like him when he’s loose? Upon a moose? Near a caboose? On top a spruce? Drinking chartreuse? You do not like him, so you say. But try him, try him, and you may. …\_\_ …|—| …|—| …-------- .\>( o . o )\< ..(|…|) …|..|..| …(**(**) ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2011, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-seuss-lazy-rhymes/582663/20 "2011-05-22T04:03:14Z")
Well, heck, after all, Seuss wasn’t trying to write Poetry, just funny stuff for kids. > [@Khadaji](#): > > _Zans_? Don’t even get me started on _Sneetches_! The Sneetches Are perfect examples of complete beetches. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-seuss-lazy-rhymes/582663.md?page=2)