The New England editor might be using a pen in his portrait, but he would have typed final copy for the newspaper. Follow our Typewriter Trail to explore ideas around the use of the typewriter.

Theodor Seuss Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss, was famous for this Smith Corona Portable. When he was inspired to write a rhyme or map out a storyline, he would reach for his trusty typing machine. Ted said he learned all about rhythm and rhyme from his mother Nettie. She used to sing her children to sleep with the “Pie Song,” among others, which filled Ted’s head with a cadence he would repeat often in his children’s books. The anapest meter—two short syllables followed by a long one—has a rollicking movement. For instance ““I know it is wet, and the sun is not sunny. But we can have lots of good fun that is funny!”

Go ahead and sit down beside Ted and give this machine a try. Can you write a Seussian rhyme?