The 1960s was a transformative decade that shaped modern culture in profound ways. From the emergence of countercultural movements to the explosion of political activism, the 60s were a time of great change. Yet, despite its serious undertones, the 1960s also witnessed a blossoming of humor and satire, expressed through the written word. Poetry during this time was not just about social justice or personal expression but also a means of reflecting the absurdity of the period’s rapid change.
In this article, we will explore fourteen funny poems from the 1960s that capture the era’s whimsical side, from playful critiques of societal norms to witty observations on the era’s love for experimentation. Each poem will be analyzed to understand its humorous elements and how it connects to the cultural, political, and social landscape of the time.
14 Funny Poems About the 1960s You May Not Know
1. “Howl” by Allen Ginsberg
While not traditionally a humorous poem, Allen Ginsberg’s Howl features moments of absurdity and dark humor that reflect the disillusionment of the 1960s. Ginsberg’s vivid descriptions of his peers’ excesses, such as “who went out and bought new 10-speed bicycles to find the pink wine bottles at the bottom of the sea,” highlights the surreal, almost slapstick nature of the decade’s hedonism. His humor is dark, yes, but it is undeniably funny in the way it exaggerates the lifestyles of a generation trying to make sense of its own self-destructive behavior.
Ginsberg uses humor to amplify the frustrations and contradictions of the 1960s counterculture. By exaggerating their “fantastic” and “grotesque” behaviors, he creates an image of a generation lost in excess. The humor is jarring, but it also underscores a point: the chaos of the era was as laughable as it was tragic.
2. “The Change of the Guard” by W. H. Auden
Auden’s poem The Change of the Guard is a humorous commentary on the shifting societal roles and values. The poem depicts the replacement of one set of “guards” with a new generation of leaders, but the new guards are depicted as less competent and more ridiculous than their predecessors. The humor in this poem arises from the absurdity of the new order, with the guards “practicing” their ceremonial duties, only to fail hilariously.
Auden uses satire to poke fun at the idea of change and the notion that the younger generation will necessarily improve upon the old. The humor lies in the irony of “progress” being depicted as a farce. This piece speaks to the 1960s, where the ideals of youth and rebellion were seen as solutions to societal problems, even as they often produced equally absurd results.
3. “A Supermarket in California” by Allen Ginsberg
In this poem, Ginsberg imagines a surreal trip to a supermarket, where he converses with Walt Whitman and observes a strange world of consumerism. Ginsberg humorously critiques the growing materialism of the 1960s through the lens of an odd, psychedelic adventure. The humor emerges from the incongruity of the setting—Walt Whitman, a poet of nature and personal freedom, roaming the aisles of a supermarket, an emblem of consumer culture.
The humor in this poem is both absurd and ironic, with Ginsberg using the juxtaposition of Whitman’s ideals against the mundane reality of post-WWII capitalism. The poem critiques how society’s values have shifted, turning deeply philosophical figures like Whitman into bewildered observers of an ever-more absurd world.
4. “The Hippopotamus” by T.S. Eliot
T.S. Eliot, known for his intellectual and often serious poetry, delivers a quirky piece in The Hippopotamus. This poem features a humorous examination of the titular hippopotamus and his apparent wisdom. Eliot cleverly blends absurdity and moral lessons by depicting the hippo as a figure of both mystery and oddity, forcing the reader to reflect on deeper issues in an almost comical light.
Eliot’s use of a hippopotamus as the poem’s central character is a playful choice. It pokes fun at the seriousness of moral and philosophical questions, showing that wisdom can sometimes come from the most unexpected and silly of sources. The 1960s, marked by social upheaval and experimentation, embraced the absurd, and Eliot’s work here humorously reflects that spirit.
5. “The Parable of the Old Man and the Young” by Wilfred Owen
While Wilfred Owen is primarily known for his war poetry, The Parable of the Old Man and the Young offers a darkly comic view of the generational conflict. The poem satirizes the futility of war by pitting the “old man” (representing traditional values) against the “young” (representing youthful rebellion). The conclusion, in which the old man sacrifices the young man in a senseless ritual, carries an absurd twist.
Owen’s satire is biting but funny in its grotesque final image. The humor comes from the ridiculousness of the sacrifice, which mocks the way older generations often treat the younger generation’s ideals as expendable. This resonates with the 1960s youth movements, who often found themselves at odds with the older, more traditional society.
6. “In Memory of W.B. Yeats” by W. H. Auden
While this poem may initially seem somber in its subject matter—the death of W.B. Yeats—Auden infuses it with playful humor, particularly in the way he portrays Yeats’s legacy. Auden imagines Yeats “tumbling from the skies” into a “sea of time,” and then later portrays the poet as a figure who can no longer maintain the gravitas of his previous years. Auden’s lighthearted treatment of Yeats’ death subtly critiques the poet’s own lofty ideals.
Auden uses humor to highlight the passage of time and the inevitable erosion of legacy. By imagining Yeats’s revered status being turned into an absurd image, Auden pokes fun at the reverence poets are often given, while simultaneously showing that time makes everything, even death, a bit absurd.
7. “The Soldier” by Rupert Brooke
Brooke’s The Soldier is a poem that on the surface seems patriotic and somber, but it contains a subtle irony when read in the context of the 1960s. The idea of death for a cause is romanticized here, but the later generations—particularly the anti-war youth movements—would find humor in the naïve simplicity of the poet’s sentiments. Brooke’s idealized version of death contrasts sharply with the disillusionment of the 1960s.
The humor in this poem comes from the contrast between the idealized death for one’s country and the absurdity of war, as seen from the perspective of the 1960s. The youth of the 60s, shaped by the Vietnam War, found themselves rejecting such idealized notions, finding the poem’s glorification of death rather laughable.
8. “I, Too, Sing America” by Langston Hughes
While Hughes’ poem is primarily known for its strong social commentary, there is an underlying humor in the way he imagines the future. The narrator’s humorous assertion that he “too” will sit at the table, despite being marginalized, speaks to a quiet but powerful resistance. It’s not the usual form of comedy, but the humor here lies in the defiance, in the belief that the status quo will eventually be overturned.
The humor in Hughes’ poem is understated yet powerful. The poem’s optimism in the face of oppression offers a humorous twist—suggesting that those in power will eventually have to deal with a transformed society, one where equality reigns. It speaks to the revolutionary humor of the 1960s, where humor was often the weapon of the marginalized.
9. “This Is Just to Say” by William Carlos Williams
William Carlos Williams’ famous short poem This Is Just to Say is, on the surface, a simple apology for eating someone else’s plums. However, its humor lies in the utter lack of remorse. The speaker’s nonchalant admission of guilt, followed by the sensual description of the plums, provides an amusing contrast between the mundane and the dramatic.
Williams’ poem is humorous because it takes a trivial act—eating someone else’s food—and elevates it to an emotional apology. The humor comes from the exaggerated emotional response to something utterly insignificant, poking fun at the seriousness with which we sometimes approach trivial matters.
10. “The Waste Land” by T.S. Eliot
In The Waste Land, Eliot’s fragmented style is sometimes chaotic, but it also has moments of absurdity that carry a sharp sense of humor. Through references to pop culture and historical figures, Eliot’s witty remarks provide a humorous take on the disillusionment of the modern world. For instance, his parody of the Tarot reading in the second section of the poem is both eerie and darkly comic.
Eliot’s humor in The Waste Land emerges from his ability to blend serious literary traditions with a playful, mocking tone. His satire of modern life and culture, including the 1960s obsession with psychology and mysticism, showcases his ability to laugh at the very things that others might take seriously.
11. “The Funeral” by Pablo Neruda
Though The Funeral deals with the solemn theme of death, there is a certain dark humor in Neruda’s portrayal of the absurdity of life and death. The idea of a funeral procession being interrupted by a mundane event, such as a dog chasing a cat, highlights the absurdity of life’s serious moments.
The humor here is rooted in the juxtaposition of life’s grand moments with its trivialities. Neruda’s satirical tone captures the spirit of the 1960s, where the world’s heavy issues were often viewed through the lens of absurdity and farce.
12. “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night” by Dylan Thomas
Dylan Thomas’ famous poem Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night can be seen as humorously defiant in its call for resistance to death. The over-the-top urgency and pleading tone carry a kind of theatrical humor, particularly when viewed against the 1960s countercultural rejection of traditional, peaceful endings.
The humor in Thomas’s poem arises from the grandiosity of the fight against death, almost making it feel absurd in its determination. It is a call for life, yes, but it also feels like a comic overreaction to an inevitable part of existence, which resonated with the rebellious spirit of the 1960s.
13. “Jabberwocky” by Lewis Carroll
Although Jabberwocky was written much earlier, it gained renewed popularity in the 1960s, especially in the context of the growing psychedelic movement. The nonsensical language and absurd creatures in the poem are often seen as humorous, both for their whimsical nature and for their ability to captivate a generation experimenting with language and perception.
Carroll’s playful language and the absurdity of the Jabberwock itself became emblematic of the 1960s search for new ways to perceive the world. The poem’s humor lies in its deliberate nonsense, reflecting the spirit of a decade where breaking conventions was not just encouraged but celebrated.
14. “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost
Robert Frost’s The Road Not Taken is often viewed as a somber reflection on choice, but there is an underlying humor in its ending. The narrator’s acknowledgment that “I shall be telling this with a sigh” is a sly commentary on how the importance we place on choices can sometimes be exaggerated in retrospect.
The humor in this poem comes from the irony of hindsight. What may seem like a monumental decision is, in the end, just a small moment in life, a theme that resonated deeply with the 1960s, where personal freedom and choice became dominant themes in the cultural narrative.
Conclusion
These 14 funny poems from the 1960s offer a humorous and insightful perspective on a tumultuous and transformative decade. Through wit, satire, and absurdity, poets captured the contradictions of a generation caught between progress and confusion, idealism and excess. By analyzing the humor within these works, we can better appreciate how the 1960s were not just a time of revolution and rebellion but also a time when humor became an essential tool for navigating the complexities of modern life.
