A Seussical review

“I like nonsense. It wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living. It’s a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope. Which is what I do, and that enables you to laugh at life’s realities.”

—Dr. Seuss

Every Who at the News & Review likes Dr. Seuss a lot,

But hanging his art here costs more than we got.

Hanging his art here costs more than a buck,

That’s why you’d think we’d be plain out of luck.

But now we’ve a chance to go see what Seuss means,

In fantastical colors with critters and scenes.

‘Cuz Addi Galleries has got some Seuss in its hold,

Yup, 21 pieces that want to be, well, sold.

The sun did not shine. It was too wet to play.

So we drove to the Hilton to see the display.

I drove there with Tabi, my daughter, 13,

She literally cut her teeth on Seuss, if you know what I mean.

“Mom, are these pictures right out of his books?”

She asked of the lithographs hanging on hooks.

“Yup, there’s the Cat in the Hat and the Grinch,”

I said, checking prices, trying hard not to flinch.

The lithos start at $225—that’s not bad.

If I count up the pennies and nickels we had

Stashed in our nooks and our crannies and drawers,

Deep in the closets and under the floors.

But Tabi and I set our sights a bit higher,

We wanted a serigraph with colors like fire.

We wanted “Cat Carnival in Venice” to start,

A limited-edition reproduction of the Doc’s secret art.

Gallery aide Dominick was helpful and kind

When we asked for prices, he didn’t much mind,

But directed my attention to something a bit less

Than the $1,600 “Cat Carnival in Venice.”

Dominick showed me “Self Portrait As A Young Man Shaving,”

But a ‘toon take on Joyce ($695) did nothing for my craving.

And Tabi decided to favor a cat

Singing “Oh Solo Meow,” or something like that.

In the end, I told Domi I’d give him a call,

But I knew I’d have “Cat Carnival” or nothing at all.

And, basically, nothing was just what I bought,

But like Seuss, it was mere fantasy that I’d sought.