Tom Hood.
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The following Parody is taken from a small and very scarce volume, entitled, “My Hookah; or, The Stranger in Calcutta.” Being a collection of Poems by an Officer. Calcutta: Printed at the Press of Greenway and Co., 1812.
The volume contains a Preface, 73 pages of Poetry, of a mildly humourous type, and a List of Subscribers, headed by the name of The Right Honourable Lord Minto, Governor General, etc., etc., etc. In a foot note to My Hookah, the Author (whose name is not given), remarks, “Cowper’s beautiful lines to ‘Mary’ have given rise to innumerable Parodies—we have had ‘My Father,’—‘My Mother,’ and even ‘My Granny;’ why then should not ‘My Hookah’ be added to the number?”
My Hookah.
What is it, that affords such joys
On Indian shores, and never cloys,
But makes that pretty, bubbling noise?
My Hookah.
What is it, that a Party if in