In 1876 poet Julia Ann Moore was beloved by the people of Grand Rapids, precisely because her poems were so bad. Eventually she went national... and cruel audiences stopped laughing at her poems, and started laughing at her. Transcript, sources, links and more at https://order-of-the-jackalope.com/i-started-a-joke/ Key sources for this episode include A.H. Greenly's "The Sweet Singer of Michigan Biographically Considered", Rudolph Umland's "The Blessed Sweet Singer"; Thomas J. Riedlinger's Mortal Refrains; Mark Twain's Crossing the Equator; and, of course, Julia Ann Moore's The Sentimental Song Book, The Sweet Singer of Michigan Salutes the Public, and A Few Choice Words to the Public, With New and Original Poems. Part of the That's Not Canon Productions podcast network. https://thatsnotcanon.com/ Special thanks to Dave Blomenberg for coming on to discuss poetry with us! And thanks Dorothy White, Eric Leslie, David L. White, Greg Armstrong, Sam Link, Steven White, Kristen Harkness and Richard Le Poidevin for contributing their vocal talents to this episode! This week we're co-promoting with fellow TNC podcast The Curiosity of a Child. Join Richard and Anton as they look at the quirky and unusual as well we the mundane from around the world as well as seeking out local history, events and characters. https://thecuriosityofachild.com/ Discord: https://discord.gg/Mbap3UQyCB Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/orderjackalope/ Tumblr: https://orderjackalope.tumblr.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/orderjackalope Email: [email protected]