Allow the rhyme scheme to dictate the content


This poem is for you, Rebecca –
I’m drawn to you like a pilgrim to Mecca,
Like a lighthouse lamp that’s all aflicker,
Like a record collector to the archives of Decca.
Your skin is pale and paper white
And I think you’re a lovely sight,
Much better than a building site;
A riot could your smile incite.
Your eyes are like two shining stars,
Or headlights on the front of cars,
Or spaceships exploding whilst orbiting Mars –
I hope you’re never infected with SARS.

14 comments:

  1. It ended just when it was getting good. I demand that you write a "DDDD" section to your poem.

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  2. Some poetry sound like someone's found a rhyming dictionary and ran with it. Scary.

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  3. Nice, but "aflicker" doesn't rhyme with "Mecca" for most English speakers though. Only those with non-rhotic dialects, which is mostly in England, with pockets in Boston, Norfolk, New Orleans, and Savannah. Some nice maps here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-rhotic

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  4. Even for us non-rhotic speakers, it still doesn't rhyme, as the vowel sound is wrong. But Boris Becker and double decker both do.

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  5. But what about the poor limerickist?

    There was a young man of Anjou
    Whose limericks stopped at line two.

    There was a young man of Verdun.

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  6. There was an old man
    from Peru, Whose limericks
    scanned like Haiku. When

    Asked why this was, He
    answered "Because the pay is
    much better for two."

    I too demand a D section.

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  7. I wish he would write a piece on the abusive use of Latin words and phrases, such as ad nauseam.

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  8. Rebecca is a lucky girl.

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  9. Oh, there you are Joel! I've been looking for your site. I've enjoyed browsing your last several posts. Way cool.

    ........dhole

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  10. There was a young poet from Tring(*)
    Whose limericks lacked one vital element.
    He tried all the time
    to make the words fit.
    but the lines were too short.

    (*) Hertfordshire, UK, innit?

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  11. I have to admit, Scurra's haiki-limerick is my favourite

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  12. The poem you wrote was really good
    I've read your blog longer than I should
    My favorite sweatshirt is grey with a hood
    My nightstand and dresser are made of wood.

    :)

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