[0073] Summer By The Lakeside
Thursday, 2 Jul 2009 by Novil

[0073] Summer By The Lakeside

Apparently writing jokes in a foreign language was not yet challenging enough for me, so I had to try writing a poem in a foreign language. *sigh*

Initially I just wanted to use a random poem about summer in this strip, namely “Summer by the Lakeside” by John Greenleaf Whittier. Since that was not very funny, I started to rewrite the poem to make it more meaningful to Shadow until it finally became this carnivorous anthem.

This is the first strip of a long new story arc, by the way.

  • Shadow: O tasty prey without a clue,
    You can’t escape my searching view
    Nor my quick jump out of the blue!
  • Shadow: O burning sun, you are so kind
    To make them dozy, dizzy, blind
    As I sneak up from their behind!
  • Shadow: O fearsome claws, I’ll dig you deep
    Into dull mice too fat to leap
    And rabbits fallen half asleep!
  • Shadow: O lovely smells that roam the air,
    Your source is just right… over there!
    But not for long, I’ll eat that…
  • Shadow: … hand??
  • Kevin Dean: OW!
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Discussion (34)¬

  1. Cairn Destop says:

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    Considering the threat of rabies, wonder how long Sid is going to remain free?

  2. John K says:

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    I thought the poem was good… better then I could do.

    Excited to see what happens next!

  3. Matty says:

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    Well, good 4 the would-have-been prey, bad 4 sid, I guess…
    …oh well, He’ll get something to eat eventually…
    (I still <3 woo!)

  4. Anne says:

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    Per my comment re the previous strip, I do deeply apologize. I was entirely wrong in what I expected. Sorry. And compliments on the verses. It’s nice to read good ones that scan.

  5. AlexThander says:

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    i’m guessing that hand would have been pear

  6.     Rate this comment: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0

    I think the direction this plot is heading is pretty obvious: SOMEONE IS TURNING INTO A WEREFOX!

  7. Rabid_fox says:

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    Percy Bysshe Shadow.

    Fantastic, this one.

  8. Skulker says:

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    This may be a new arc but you haven’t finished the last one yet!
    I don’t think I ma the ONLY one left confused and up in the air:
    a) In panel 4 the phone was ringing so Woo didn’t call the movers
    b) “Loading in” is ambiguous. In the US we would just say “loading”
    for loading stuff onto/into the truck or say “moving in” for unloading
    the truck into the house.
    We need some closure or clarification here.

  9. kuroihitomi says:

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    Skulker, the phone wasn’t ringing, it’s supposed to be highlighted, so you notice it.

  10. Bartimaeus says:

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    Ooooops.

  11. Moxie Man says:

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    Verses are well done. Yes, I can see the resulting “fox hunt” due to the threat of rabies state-side, though it’s more of a problem up in my neck of the woods with raccoons, skunks, and bats rather than foxes. However, it’s not unheard of in foxes. Poor Shadow, all he wants is something to eat.

  12. Frank says:

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    Skulker, the last strip was a one-off joke. And yes, I have heard “loading in”, though on one particular occasion the mover had to clarify “I mean loading your stuff in the truck”. Must be a regionalism.

    And, is that a pear Shadow is going to eat? Doesn’t match very well with the “carnivorous anthem”. On the other hand, we’re talking here about a fox that eats Oreos :-)

  13. Dan says:

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    I think that the poem was very good. And this “Frank” who criticised this strip is a dumb fuck. Foxes are all eater, they eat everything the can get.
    Besides, is cartoon, it’s obvious that there is some stuff that doesn’t fit in the reality. Like that strip when Woo put his hands in his pockets, like racoons have pockets. A tip to you “Frank”, if you want to criticise someone, do it right.

  14. ZeroVX says:

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    Ut-oh…Shadow better start running…

  15. Celtcath says:

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    Uh Oh……This may end badly.

  16. Mark says:

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    I think the poem turned out just great!

  17. Tom Flapwell says:

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    Wow, I didn’t know you had English as a second language. As an editor, I’d expect to find spelling and grammar errors, but I haven’t. And your diction is never stilted.

    Any strip with an original poem that’s careful in rhyme and rhythm is a good strip in my book.

  18. A.L. says:

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    And now Shadow will be hunted down for due to the possibly threat of him having rabies.That or the person he chomped on could have sworn he talked.Also great poem :D .

  19. KaT Adams says:

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    Blitz: You’ve been reading too much SkinHorse (i had the same thought XD)

  20. Shini says:

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    That is a far better poem than I could muster.

  21. Rocket_T_Coyote says:

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    One should look before one pounces. Most fox here are rather shy, but a few are bold enough to wander near human habitation. I’ll never forget the large todd at the local airport during a local airshow–He stopped trotting the runway and sat up for the invocation and the national anthem–then trotted to a thick grassy spot to hideout. Such charming creatures when in good health. YouTube has some fine video too.

  22. itssnowing says:

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    my computer suddenly went to this page well i was reading the last page O.o
    wierd

  23.     Rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

    The dangers of wearing good-smelling scents out in the wilderness.

  24. Squival says:

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    Run Shadow run! He could be an American with a gun!!! The worst combination of person ever thought up

  25. Long Tom says:

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    I assumed the strip actually takes place in Germany. And as far as I know, I don’t think you can very well bring a gun there.

  26. J.J. says:

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    Take a bite out of…, thyme.

  27. Douglas Graebner says:

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    Good thing you rewrote that poem. I for one cannot stand John Greenleaf Whittier.

  28. Pizzasgood says:

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    It takes place in “a small rural town in the north of the United States.”
    http://www.sandraandwoo.com/cast

  29. RA says:

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    I just noticed the coloring in the last panel! Nice touch!

  30. Rocket_T_Coyote says:

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    One of the local veterinarians adds medicine to dog kibble to put out for wild fox to prevent mange. Once saw a fox foaming at the mouth and mangey, wandering about the road in circles–not a pleasant sight.

  31.     Rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

    GASP rabbies!!!

  32. brian says:

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    Great poem, can’t wait to read more :)

  33. Novil says:

    Regarding the comment of Dan:

    Please no name-calling of other users.

    Okay: “Your argument is stupid!”

    Not okay: “You are stupid!”

  34. Lax says:

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    First blood :D This comic is getting more and more interesting by the page :)

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