The Ballad of Speedy’s Point

Our Editor-in-Chief once proposed allowing multi-verse limericks in the OEDILF, which prompted this response of mine. Thomas Taylor provided the title.

 

When interpreting these memoranda,
Beware of results that weren’t planned. A
Submission should feature
A thought that’s complete—your
Intent should be clear. Understand? A

Submission of more than two verses
Will lead to berating and curses,
For when he’s left hanging,
The reader’s left banging
His head on the keyboard, or worse. As

A ballad can go on forever,
Adding more to it doesn’t take clever
And pithy precision,
Just limitless vision:
Just start with a limerick, and never

Bring closure, because there’s no need,
When there’s no one-verse rule to impede
Your authorial whims.
The results are like hymns:
They go on, and go on, in their greed

To add one further thought, and to what
Worthy end? Make us walk on the spot?
Or just send us to sleep?
Those intending to keep
People reading, should probably not

Make a habit of this, I suspect,
But instead should be far more direct.
Keep it down to one verse,
As it’s hard to stay terse,
And that challenge will earn you respect.

 

From an OEDILF Forum thread in September 2008.