Well, Roger, what I meant by a motive was a reason for the speaker (not exactly the poet) to suddenly change course.

Most of the limeroids seem based on the experience we all have of needing to change the subject at the last minute.

In your Fillmore thing, the rhymes create a sort of dramatic irony -- Grant is speaking unironically, but the rhymes whisper that his perspective is out of whack. Well, something like that.

Do you think there's an article in this, "Limeroids: Theory and Practice"?

Gee, Chris, this is the first time I've ever seen verisimilitide suggested as a requisite for a limerick (or its first cousin, the limeroid)! http://www.ablemuse.com/erato/ubbhtml/smile.gif

Gosh, betrayed expectation is one of the oldest (and surest) tricks in comedy. Surely the speaker [or poet] can just want to surprise the reader--the same motivation as the "mishy-phen." Of course the surprise is more effective the more clever and dramatically coherent the context . . .

You mean the article hasn't been written yet? http://www.ablemuse.com/erato/ubbhtml/wink.gif

Cheers,
Jan

Golly, Gee Whiz and Good Gracious, Jan, DID I say that? And I thought I mentioned the shaggy dog story (which raises expectations to disappoint them) as a model myself.

I was just idly reflecting, not trying to outlaw any kind of limeroid! http://www.ablemuse.com/erato/ubbhtml/smile.gif

"To be or be not" is my riddle,
not halfway or just on a fiddle.
But old Heraclit
said "Once - that is it.
You never repeat your own twiddle."

---

Svein Olav

.. another life



[This message has been edited by Solan (edited March 01, 2002).]