Laughing and not laughing
I understand about unknown unknowns vs. known unknowns. That isn't funny.
The way it's put is. It reminds me of this tongue twister:
I have a can opener that can open any can that any can opener that can open any can can open. If you have a can that any can opener that can open any can can open, I will use my can opener that can open any can that any can opener that can open any can can open to open your can that any can opener that can open any can can open.
The fact that any of Rumsfeld's words can scan as poetry is hilarious.
This, on the other hand, had me shaking my head:
Clarity
I think what you'll find,
I think what you'll find is,
Whatever it is we do substantively,
There will be near-perfect clarity
As to what it is.
And it will be known,
And it will be known to the Congress,
And it will be known to you,
Probably before we decide it,
But it will be known.
—Feb. 28, 2003, Department of Defense briefing
For a Defense Department briefing, it's not a model of clear communication. And yet, as a piece of poetry, it has something.
Hart Seely has done the same thing for Phil Rizzuto's baseball commentary, collecting some of it as "found poetry" in a book called O Holy Cow!: The Selected Verse of Phil Rizzuto. I think I'll get that too. I grew up listening to Phil Rizzuto.