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.

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Title

“Pennipomes Twoguineaseach”.

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Measurements

The manuscript measures 15.4 x 20.9 cm.

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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).

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Dating

Joyce probably wrote this poem in early 1933.

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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.”

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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.

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Notes

The manuscript was folded once horizontally and three times vertically.