http://www.perlmonks.org?node_id=729555

Hi, According to Wikipedia, "Perl poetry is the practice of writing poems that can actually be compiled as legal (although generally non-sensical) Perl code." But most of the "poems" below give compilation errors when I try to run them in perl? Can someone clarify please?

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Re: Confused Monkey
by toolic (Bishop) on Dec 11, 2008 at 00:06 UTC
    At the top of the Poetry section it says:
    "Poetry" is in the eye of the beholder; it could be any of:
    • Poetry written in Perl
    • Using perl to generate poetry
    • Poetry about Perl/PerlMonks

    So, there is no compilation requirement here at the Monastery. The 1st bullet item implies that it should compile; the 2nd bullet should compile; the 3rd is usually just plain text with a Perl theme.

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      Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum, I like perl cause perl is fun
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        Fifteen men on a dead man's chest

        Java is terrible but Perl is best

        CountZero

        A program should be light and agile, its subroutines connected like a string of pearls. The spirit and intent of the program should be retained throughout. There should be neither too little or too much, neither needless loops nor useless variables, neither lack of structure nor overwhelming rigidity." - The Tao of Programming, 4.1 - Geoffrey James

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Re: Confused Monkey
by Erez (Priest) on Dec 11, 2008 at 08:06 UTC

    I believe that perl poems *should* compile without errors; however, "Perl poems" are cultural and community inceptions, and are not an integral, or specificational, part of the language.
    As such, there is no rule that says they should or shouldn't compile, and it's the prerogative of composer of a Perl poem to choose whether to adhere to this convention or not.

    I also believe that, Wikipedia artices, which are written by whomever wishes to, should not be treated as definitive.

    "A core tenant of the greater Perl philosophy is to trust that the developer knows enough to solve the problem" - Jay Shirley, A case for Catalyst.

[reply]
      I also believe that, Wikipedia artices, which are written by whomever wishes to, should not be treated as definitive.

      Citation needed.

      :)

      The cake is a lie.
      The cake is a lie.
      The cake is a lie.

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Re: Confused Monkey
by f00li5h (Chaplain) on Dec 13, 2008 at 00:55 UTC

    It could also be that the poems you are looking at wa written targeting (bugs in) older perls.

    @_=qw; ask f00li5h to appear and remain for a moment of pretend better than a lifetime;;s;;@_[map hex,split'',B204316D8C2A4516DE];;y/05/os/&print;

[reply]
[d/l]

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