Carmen Possum is a popular 80-line macaronic poem written in a mix of Latin and English and dating to the 19th century. Its author is unknown, but the poem's theme and language enable one to surmise that he or she was from the United States of America and was either a teacher or at least a student of Latin.
The title is a multilingual pun: it could be taken to mean "I Can Sing" in Latin ("Carmen" meaning "song" and "Possum" meaning "I can"), but, as revealed in the text, it is supposed to mean "Song of the Opossum" (with "Possum" referring to the animal). However, both interpretations violate Latin grammar—"Carmen Possum" would not correctly translate to either phrase in proper Latin.
The poem humorously blends Latin declensions and conjugations with English words, creating absurd yet memorable phrases such as "turnus" (a pseudo-Latinized version of "turn") and "trunkum longum" (a nonsensical Latinized form of "long trunk"). This playful mixing of languages makes it a useful mnemonic tool for Latin students.
Beyond its educational value, Carmen Possum has been referenced in academic discussions on macaronic literature and language pedagogy. Its whimsical nature has also led to adaptations and performances in schools and Latin clubs.
The poem can be used as a pedagogical device for elementary Latin teaching. The language mix includes vocabulary, morphology (turnus) and grammar (trunkum longum).
In music, Carmen Possum is also the title of an unpublished choral work by American composer Normand Lockwood (1906–2002). Written in 1941, Lockwood's composition sets the Latin-English text to music, blending classical and humorous elements.
Publication history
An early version of the poem, with different words, a couple extra lines, and divided into four sections and titled Tale of a 'Possum, appeared in a Michigan University publication dated 1867, where it is attributed to Wheaton College. That same version later appeared in an 1886 issue of the University of Virginia magazine Virginia Spectator, with the title The Tale of a 'Possum; the editors inquired of readers as to the poem's authorship.
A version closer to the modern version, attributed to a "Prof. W. W. Legare" of northern Georgia and dated to the 1850s, was featured in a 1914 periodical.
The poem (modern version)
The translation on the right captures the intended reading of each verse.