--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There was an Old Man of Messina, Whose…" description: "\"There was an Old Man of Messina, Whose daughter was named Opsibeena; She wore a small wig, and rode out on a pig, To the perfect delight of Messina.\" —..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93a/edward-lear-14704_children_there-was-an-old-man-of-messina-whose-da_8903.jpg" --- # There was an Old Man of Messina, Whose daughter was named… ![“There was an Old Man of Messina, Whose daughter was named Opsibeena; She wore a small wig, and rode out on a pig, To the perfect delight of Messina.” quote by Edward Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93a/edward-lear-14704_children_there-was-an-old-man-of-messina-whose-da_8903.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93a/edward-lear-14704_children_there-was-an-old-man-of-messina-whose-da_8903.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93a/edward-lear-14704_children_there-was-an-old-man-of-messina-whose-da_8903.jpg) > “There was an Old Man of Messina, Whose daughter was named Opsibeena; She wore a small wig, and rode out on a pig, To the perfect delight of Messina.” [Edward Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-lear/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A whimsical nonsense verse that playfully subverts expectations through absurd imagery and nonsensical details. **In simple terms:** Nonsense humor with absurd characters. Key Takeaway Absurdity can delight by defying logic. Themes absurdity humor nonsense playful language surrealism Mood playful whimsical lighthearted Type nonsense verse humorous anecdote poetic parody When to use this quote - children's bedtime stories - light-hearted party jokes - creative writing prompts - satirical commentary - improvisational theater Key Concepts nonsense poetry character caricature cultural reference Practical Applications - entertaining children's literature - inspiring comedic sketches Questions to Reflect On - What effect does absurdity have on the audience? - How does the poem challenge conventional storytelling? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Daughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/daughter/) [Delight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delight/) [Delight Messina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delight-messina-346059/) [Man Messina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-messina-346062/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Messina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/messina-346061/) [Messina Daughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/messina-daughter-346058/) [Old man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-man/) [Perfect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect/) [Pigs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pigs/) [Wig Rode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wig-rode-346060/) [Wigs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wigs/) ## Related quotes > [“Messina between the volcanoes, Etna and Stromboli, having known the death-agony's terror. I always dread coming near the awful place, yet I have found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence-2/messina-between-the-volcanoes-etna-and-stromboli-having-known-the/) [D.H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence-2/) > [“They started inviting me into the Messina Club at Tenth and Tasker, which is a members-only joint where you get the best sausage and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/they-started-inviting-me-into-the-messina-club-at-tenth-and-tasker/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) > [I was born in Messina, Sicily. I stayed there until I was 18 and finished my studies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-grazia-cucinotta/i-was-born-in-messina-sicily-i-stayed-there-until-i-was-18-and/) [Maria Grazia Cucinotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-grazia-cucinotta/) > [Chris Messina is awesome. He's amazing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-spencer/chris-messina-is-awesome-he-s-amazing/) [Abigail Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-spencer/) > [Chris Messina is amazing, and he's so serious - he's, like, a proper actor! He's got craft! I love to watch him. But not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-weeks/chris-messina-is-amazing-and-he-s-so-serious-he-s-like-a-proper-actor/) [Ed Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-weeks/) > [I'm in love with wigs. I get them custom-made, and I have my hairstylist shape them to my head. I can go from short…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-rowland/i-m-in-love-with-wigs-i-get-them-custom-made-and-i-have-my/) [Kelly Rowland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-rowland/) > [When I go home my mother and I play a cannibal game; we eat each other over the years, tender morsel by morsel until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-howard/when-i-go-home-my-mother-and-i-play-a-cannibal-game-we-eat-each-other/) [Maureen Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-howard/) > [I wear a lot of wigs as Jacques Mesrine. He'd wear multiple wigs and take them off one at a time to rob three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-cassel/i-wear-a-lot-of-wigs-as-jacques-mesrine-he-d-wear-multiple-wigs-and/) [Vincent Cassel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-cassel/) > [Zac Efron is my obsession, we're the same person. We're not actually here, it's like Janet and Michael Jackson. He just puts on his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/zac-efron-is-my-obsession-we-re-the-same-person-we-re-not-actually/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [I started wearing wigs when I was younger and had a thyroid disease that made my hair fall out. It was devastating. I thought,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-robinson/i-started-wearing-wigs-when-i-was-younger-and-had-a-thyroid-disease/) [Angela Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-robinson/) > [The costume the actors wear and if they're in stylized makeup and wigs in a live-action movie let's say, in a big costume drama,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/the-costume-the-actors-wear-and-if-they-re-in-stylized-makeup-and/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [I love those preliminary conversations about who a character is. You try on wigs, shoes, and clothes. It's preferable when it's not about looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-mcadams/i-love-those-preliminary-conversations-about-who-a-character-is-you/) [Rachel McAdams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-mcadams/) > [Singing is an incredible expression and something that is important to me, but where I feel comfortable with how much I reveal about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brie-larson/singing-is-an-incredible-expression-and-something-that-is-important/) [Brie Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brie-larson/) > [You know, if I tell the press that I like long blonde hair, the next day there will be girls with long hair wigs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-lau/you-know-if-i-tell-the-press-that-i-like-long-blonde-hair-the-next/) [Andy Lau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-lau/) > [I've taken my cue from people here and from viewers, especially survivors-who said, 'When it's time to literally flip your wig, you'll know.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-roberts/i-ve-taken-my-cue-from-people-here-and-from-viewers-especially/) [Robin Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-roberts/) ## More by Edward Lear > [“Which distressed that Old Man of Jamaica. nonsense”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-lear/which-distressed-that-old-man-of-jamaica-nonsense/) [Edward Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-lear/) > [“Young Lady of Hull, Who was chased by a”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-lear/young-lady-of-hull-who-was-chased-by-a/) [Edward Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-lear/) > [And what can we expect if we haven't any dinner, But to lose our teeth and eyelashes and keep on growing thinner?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-lear/and-what-can-we-expect-if-we-haven-t-any-dinner-but-to-lose-our-teeth/) [Edward Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-lear/) > [“O lovely Pussy, O Pussy, my love, What a beautiful Pussy you are, You are, You are! What a beautiful Pussy you are!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-lear/o-lovely-pussy-o-pussy-my-love-what-a-beautiful-pussy-you-are-you-are/) [Edward Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-lear/) > [“There was a Young Person of Smyrna, whose grandmother threatened to burn her; But she seized on the cat, and said, "Granny, burn that!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-lear/there-was-a-young-person-of-smyrna-whose-grandmother-threatened-to/) [Edward Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-lear/) > [“They went to sea in a Sieve, they did, In a Sieve they went to sea: In spite of all their friends could say,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-lear/they-went-to-sea-in-a-sieve-they-did-in-a-sieve-they-went-to-sea-in/) [Edward Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-lear/) > [“The Owl looked up to the stars above, And sang to a small guitar, "O lovely Pussy, O Pussy, my love, What a beautiful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-lear/the-owl-looked-up-to-the-stars-above-and-sang-to-a-small-guitar-o/) [Edward Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-lear/) > [“And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand, They danced by the light of the moon.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-lear/and-hand-in-hand-on-the-edge-of-the-sand-they-danced-by-the-light-of/) [Edward Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-lear/) > [There was a Young Lady of Poole, Whose soup was excessively cool; So she put it to boil, by the aid of some oil,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-lear/there-was-a-young-lady-of-poole-whose-soup-was-excessively-cool-so/) [Edward Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-lear/) > [“There was an Old Man of the East, Who gave”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-lear/there-was-an-old-man-of-the-east-who-gave/) [Edward Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-lear/) > [And if you voz to see my roziz As is a boon to all men's noziz, - You'd fall upon your back and scream…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-lear/and-if-you-voz-to-see-my-roziz-as-is-a-boon-to-all-men-s-noziz-you-d/) [Edward Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-lear/) > [There was an Old Man of the East, Who gave all his children a feast; But they all ate so much, and their conduct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-lear/there-was-an-old-man-of-the-east-who-gave-all-his-children-a-feast/) [Edward Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-lear/) > [The Owl and the Pussycat went to sea In a beautiful pea-green boat: They took some honey, and plenty of money Wrapped up in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-lear/the-owl-and-the-pussycat-went-to-sea-in-a-beautiful-pea-green-boat/) [Edward Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-lear/) > [“Fish fiddle de-dee!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-lear/fish-fiddle-de-dee/) [Edward Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-lear/) > [“The Owl and the Pussy-cat went to sea In a beautiful pea green boat...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-lear/the-owl-and-the-pussy-cat-went-to-sea-in-a-beautiful-pea-green-boat/) [Edward Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-lear/) [Explore all 45 Edward Lear quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-lear/) ## More Children quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It doesnt seem to me strange that children should like the macabre, the sensational, and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hecht/it-doesnt-seem-to-me-strange-that-children-should-like-the-macabre/) [Anthony Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hecht/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [My school was one of the most beautiful places a child can grow up in. You are surrounded by nature - cats, dogs, birds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amala-akkineni/my-school-was-one-of-the-most-beautiful-places-a-child-can-grow-up-in/) [Amala Akkineni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amala-akkineni/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [“Children's lives are always beginning and adults' lives are always ending. Or is it the opposite? Your childhood is always ending and your adult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-espach/children-s-lives-are-always-beginning-and-adults-lives-are-always/) [Alison Espach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-espach/) > [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) [Browse all 62,396 Children quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There was an Old Man of Messina, Whose daughter was named Opsibeena; She wore a small wig, and rode out on a pig, To the perfect delight of Messina.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edward Lear" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-lear/there-was-an-old-man-of-messina-whose-daughter-was-named-opsibeena/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Children" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-lear/there-was-an-old-man-of-messina-whose-daughter-was-named-opsibeena/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93a/edward-lear-14704_children_there-was-an-old-man-of-messina-whose-da_8903.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93a/edward-lear-14704_children_there-was-an-old-man-of-messina-whose-da_8903.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93a/edward-lear-14704_children_there-was-an-old-man-of-messina-whose-da_8903.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There was an Old Man of Messina, Whose daughter was named Opsibeena; She wore a small wig, and rode out on a…” — Edward Lear", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Edward Lear", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-lear/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There was an Old Man of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-lear/there-was-an-old-man-of-messina-whose-daughter-was-named-opsibeena/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-lear/there-was-an-old-man-of-messina-whose-daughter-was-named-opsibeena/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```