[A. E. Stallings]

Julie Stoner suggests the following:

'a FunExcise thread of two-line "tailgaters"--i.e., famous lines of poetry, turned into the first halves of couplets? Example:

Found Near the Top of a Torrey Pine

Whose woods these are I think I know.
He sure can't golf, but he can throw.

Since this exercise only requires people to write a single line, there should be plenty of participation!

OK--I'll give it a try.

In a Phone Booth

Had we but world enough and time...
"AT&T, another dime."

[Jim Hayes]

Reflections

I think that I will never see
a poet as beautiful as me.

The Dangers of Drink

The stag at eve had drunk his fill
and then fell off the window sill



[This message has been edited by Jim Hayes (edited January 08, 2004).]

[Roger Slater]

[message removed]

[Mario Pita]

Solar Lover

*
My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun;
They're binary stars, a pair compared to one.

*
My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun;
They give no light or heat but still they stun.


I can't resist this opportunity to share a few "Tailgaters" from Richard Armour's very humorously illustrated collection, "Punctured Poems."

*
To err is human, to forgive divine.
Some errors I forgive, though, quickly.
...Mine.

*
'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than married someone and been bossed.

*
When I consider how my light is spent
I'm glad utilities come with the rent.



[This message has been edited by Mario Pita (edited January 09, 2004).]

[Roger Slater]

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[Robt_Ward]

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood —
they pee a LOT in that neighborhood —
and sorry I could not travel both,
I turned my back on the fork with an oath.

*******

When you are old and gray and full of sleep,
perhaps you'll stop your yapping and I'll find peace.

*******

That is no country for old men; the young
have finally risen up and killed them all.

*******

Whose woods these are I think I know –
Or were, at least – I've logged them now.

*******

Let me not to the marriage of two minds
devote much thought: I'd sooner marry rich.

*******

Complacencies of the peignor, and late
coffee have kept me up all night. I'm wrecked...

*******

Now all the truth is out,
run for shelter!

*******

I met her as a blossom on a stem
and fertilized her more than once, I did...

*******

someone stop me!

(robt)

[Roger Slater]

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[Kate Benedict]

Build me more stately mansions, O my soul!
Then bring me Jello pudding in a bowl.

This is the sea, then, this great abeyance.
Last one in is a rotten egg.

Batter my heart, Three-person’d God.
I’ll see you in court, you brutish clod.

God tried to teach Crow how to talk.
But it only worked with Parrot.

O who will sing for Lycidas?
He is so buff and kissidous.

I wake and feel the fell of dark not day.
I’m out of Paxil and my shrink’s away.

It was many and many a year ago in a kingdom by the sea
Where unicorns pranced in the frothing foam and and blithely took a pee.

Whoso list to hunt I know where is a hind.
Whoso lust for cunt can find it on Tenth Avenue.

(Sorry about those last two!)

[Roger Slater]

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[FOsen]

WS - Sonnets, Revisited

Some glory in their birth, some in their skill,
O.B.s in both of these, then in the bill.

When I have seen by Time’s fell hand defaced,
My brow, I’ll botox till the time’s erased.

Those parts of thee that the world’s eye doth view
Are from one Dr. Young, Park Avenue.

The expense of spirit in a waste of shame -
Reality tv’s next prime-time game.

In faith I do not love thee with mine eyes -
That’s why I wear the patch down here, for size.