On the Ning Nang Nong
By Spike Milligan
On the Ning Nang Nong
Where the cows go Bong!
and the monkeys all say BOO!
There’s a Nong Nang Ning
Where the trees go Ping!
And the teapots jibber‑jabber joo.
On the Nong Ning Nang
All the mice go Clang
And you just can’t catch ‘em when they do!
So it’s Ning Nang Nong
Cows go Bong!
Nong Nang Ning
Trees go Ping
Nong Ning Nang
The mice go Clang
What a noisy place to belong
is the Ning Nang Ning Nang Nong!!
Summary of On the Ning Nang Nong
This playful poem invites readers into a world where ordinary objects behave in extraordinary ways. The narrator describes a land called the Ning Nang Nong, where cows make a “Bong” sound, trees go “Ping,” and teapots chatter with “jibber‑jabber joo.” The rhythm is simple and repetitive, making it easy for children to sing along. Milligan’s use of nonsense words creates an atmosphere of pure imagination, encouraging listeners to let their minds wander without the constraints of logic.
Major Themes
- Imagination as a playground: The poem shows that creativity can turn everyday sights into fantastical sounds.
- The joy of playfulness: Repetition and silly words build a sense of fun, inviting children to laugh and participate.
- Nonsense as celebration: By embracing meaningless phrases, the poem reminds us that not everything needs meaning to be enjoyable.
Analysis of Literary Devices
Alliteration
The repeated consonant sounds give the poem a musical quality. For example, “jibber‑jabber joo” repeats the /j/ sound, while “trees go Ping” uses the /p/ sound.
Assonance
Vowel repetition creates internal harmony. The long “o” in “Cows go Bong” and “Mice go Clang” ties lines together.
Consonance
The repeated /ng/ and /g/ sounds in “Ning Nang Nong” and “go Bong” reinforce the poem’s rhythmic pattern.
Onomatopoeia
Words like “Bong,” “Ping,” and “Clang” imitate real sounds, adding vividness to the nonsense landscape.
Repetition
The refrain “On the Ning Nang Nong” appears at the beginning of several stanzas, creating a sense of unity and encouraging sing‑along participation.
Imagery
Even though the poem is nonsensical, it paints clear pictures: cows making a booming sound, trees emitting a pinging noise, teapots chatting. These images stimulate visual imagination in young readers.
Poetic Devices and Structure
Diction
Milligan deliberately chooses playful, invented words that feel familiar yet are entirely new, keeping the tone light and whimsical.
End Rhyme & Rhythm
The poem uses simple end rhymes such as “Bong” with “Clang,” but it does not follow a strict scheme. The varied line lengths give the piece an almost conversational rhythm that feels natural to children’s speech patterns.
Stanza and Form
All seventeen lines are grouped into one continuous stanza, which mirrors the unbroken flow of imagination. This single block encourages readers to see the poem as a single, flowing story rather than separate parts.
Tone
The overall mood is lighthearted and playful. The absurdity of the sounds and the carefree repetition invite laughter and curiosity.
Interpretation: How Each Part Builds the Central Message
- Opening lines: By naming a place where cows “go Bong,” Milligan immediately signals that ordinary animals will behave in extraordinary ways, setting the tone of playful surprise.
- Middle verses: The introduction of trees, teapots, and mice with their own unique sounds expands the world, showing that every element can be transformed through imagination.
- Refrains: Repeating “On the Ning Nang Nong” ties all the whimsical images together, reminding readers that this is a shared, communal space of fun.
- Closing lines: The final declaration that it is “the Ning Nang Ning Nang Nong!!” reinforces the idea that nonsense can be celebrated as its own kind of reality, encouraging children to embrace creativity without restraint.
Through simple language and rhythmic playfulness, Spike Milligan’s poem teaches that imagination turns the ordinary into the extraordinary. The literary devices work together to create a memorable, sing‑along experience that delights both children and adults alike.