IV.B.12: Occasional Verses
“Pennipomes Twoguineaseach” (1933)
Material Description and Collation
The manuscript is a torn sheet of unruled white paper, with an only partially legible watermark, the bottom edge of which is ragged. It is a typewritten double-spaced purple bottom (carbon) copy, with a correction in lead pencil; the verso is blank.
Title
“Pennipomes Twoguineaseach”.
Measurements
The manuscript measures 15.4 x 20.9 cm.
Contents
The manuscript is a parody of the nursery rhyme, “Sing a Song of Sixpence,” about the publication of The Joyce Book (London: The Syvlan Press and Humphrey Milford, Oxford University Press, March 1933; Slocum and Cahoon A29).
Dating
Joyce probably wrote this poem in early 1933.
Other Markings
The typist initialed the manuscript “J.J.” below the text. Sylvia Beach wrote a note in blue ink that reads: “referring to The Joyce Book | edited by Herbert Hughes | Pomes Penyeach set to | music – Tribute to J.J.”
Publication
The manuscript has been reproduced in black and white photo-facsimile on JJA 1.349 and appeared in Spielberg (p. 26) and then was published in PSW, p. 144.
Notes
The manuscript was folded once horizontally and three times vertically.