It was during my sophomore year of college that I was introduced to Walt Kelly by Pogo. Kelly quickly became one of my heroes. Why? 1) Kelly is the greatest artist that ever drew a comical strip; 2) He had the keenest and most incisive insight into the way the world works and; 3) if you didn't "get it" at once, it would creep up on you and slam you into the swampwater.
Pogo of course was the philosopher of the Okeefenokee, but without his foils, Albert, Churchy and Howland, his ruminations and observations could never have been delivered to a needy world.
These regulars were assisted by a huge cast of characters drawn from Kelly's fertile mind as the need arose. Even the bugs made significant contributions to our edification.
Probably the most famous Walt Kelly quote, as delivered by Pogo, is "We have met the enemy, and he is us." But there are quote-worthy snippets in most every presentation as the critters go about lampooning human behavior and lancing the sores on our society.
A ferocious feline tells Mouse, "It ain't that your majority is outnumbered, Mouse. You're just out-surrounded." or, Pogo again,
"Some is more equal than others, as is well known." or one of my personal favorites,
Pogo: "But how about if the one guy is right an' the 10,000 is wrong."
Pogo of course was the philosopher of the Okeefenokee, but without his foils, Albert, Churchy and Howland, his ruminations and observations could never have been delivered to a needy world.
These regulars were assisted by a huge cast of characters drawn from Kelly's fertile mind as the need arose. Even the bugs made significant contributions to our edification.
Probably the most famous Walt Kelly quote, as delivered by Pogo, is "We have met the enemy, and he is us." But there are quote-worthy snippets in most every presentation as the critters go about lampooning human behavior and lancing the sores on our society.
A ferocious feline tells Mouse, "It ain't that your majority is outnumbered, Mouse. You're just out-surrounded." or, Pogo again,
"Some is more equal than others, as is well known." or one of my personal favorites,
Pogo: "But how about if the one guy is right an' the 10,000 is wrong."
And since it is the Christmas season, it is meet and right that we all join the Perloo Society in a verse of "Deck Us All With Boston Charlie" (to be sung to the tune of, well you know.)
Deck us all with Boston Charlie,
Walla Walla, Wash..an' Kalamazoo!
Nora's freezin' on the trolley,
Swaller dollar cauliflower
Alleygaroo!
Don't we know archaic barrel,
Lullaby Lilla Boy,
Louisville Lou.
Trolly Molly don't love Harold,
Boola boola Pensacoola
Hullabaloo!
Mr. Kelly quoted his father as having said, "Language is the worst means of communincation known to man. Pictures and good luck will get you anywhere."
WALT KELLY 1913 -1973 RIP
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