[Susan McLean]

Bruce Bennett (who will be at West Chester this year):
The limerick (as we all know) is not a French repeating form, but it suggested itself as an appropriate vehicle to respond to Michael's ruminations on the satisfaction repetends can provide the aging.


WHEN IT'S ALL THERE

I think the French forms work best when you take a similar approach.
If one must compromise, then the approach you took - backing off the
repetend, but making certain that the lines flow well - is the way to go.
But when it's all there - when the repetends are more or less complete,
and make sense, and say something else each time around - it's not as
good as good sex, but as you get older it's not a bad substitute!

.........................................-- Michael Cantor

When the repetends all are complete,
and make sense, and yet do not repeat,
.....you are golden, my boy!
.....What an unalloyed joy!
Even sex (sort of) takes a back seat.


And finally, for anyone who is interested, here is information about my sonnet sequence, A GIRL LIKE YOU, to be published by Finishing Line Press in September. (If you don't know about Finishing Line, check out Ned Balbo's notice about Leslie Monsour's prize-winning FLP chapbook under The Accomplished Members.) The preorder deadline is July 8th, and the direct link is http://www.finishinglinepress.com/Ne...mingTitles.htm.

Happy future repeating forms to everyone!

BB

[Janice D. Soderling]

That made my day, BB. (And thanks again, and again, and again.)

Oh, I am so jealous of everyone going to West Chester.

[Catherine Chandler]

Hilarious! Thanks, Susan. And I hope I'll get to meet Bruce later on this week.

[Michael Cantor]

Thanks, Bruce, for reviving my comment. Unfortunately, I only know one limerick, and it permeates everything else I try.

"When the repetends are all complete,
make sense, and yet do not repeat,"
he said between grins
as he wiped off his chins,
"it's the kind of sex we older guys find sweet."

[Julie Steiner]

When the repetends don't just entrench,
but keep moving, stay firm, and don't wrench,
.....it's better than sex
.....rated X X X X,
and that's why these forms are called French.

[Carol Taylor]

Though my memory's fragmentary,
and the point of view quite arbitrary,
I seem to recall
when I focus at all,
sex is sweeter when repetends vary.

[Janice D. Soderling]

I'm laughing my butt off. BB has no idea of what genie he has let out of the bottle.

[Jerome Betts]

You said it, Janice!

A repetend well worth repeating:
Carnal pleasures are fickle and fleeting.
Try a sexy French form
And your cockles will warm
Though you move thanks to wheels on your seating.

[Ed Shacklee]

Originally Posted by Susan McLean

And finally, for anyone who is interested, here is information about my sonnet sequence, A GIRL LIKE YOU, to be published by Finishing Line Press in September. (If you don't know about Finishing Line, check out Ned Balbo's notice about Leslie Monsour's prize-winning FLP chapbook under The Accomplished Members.) The preorder deadline is July 8th, and the direct link is http://www.finishinglinepress.com/Ne...mingTitles.htm.

Happy future repeating forms to everyone!

BB

And here I'd been thinking all limmericks had to have 'Nantucket' in them.

I'll fight my way to the front of the line and pre-order A Girl Like You, the new book, but I'd also like to plug Burce Bennett's slim but wonderful book of villanelles, It's Hard to Get the Angle Right, which is still available through used book services and deserves another printing. I went looking for it after the event here kicked off, and I'm glad that I found a copy.

I'd like to add my thanks to the host, our distinguished guest and the participants for all the poems and comments.

Ed