Well, as far as I'm concerned, you can, but there may be some arcane reason you shouldn't. However, if nopbody hollers, just go ahead. It ought not to be too hard to pick a Holly out. Especially for you, of course.

No reason at all why people shouldn't guess, and that was allowed in the recent bakeoff. The only thing we discourage is spilling the beans when you know.

Thank you, Maryann. Now all is clear.

John, please tell us the deadline!

John doesn't like deadlines. It's his secret. So everyone, please stop asking.

Well deadline is such a morbid word at that. I can see John's reluctance. And "cut-off" has bad associations as well. Maybe John could just suggest, using the subjunctive case at least once or twice, the range of dates that would delight him most?

The subjunctive is a MOOD.

--Your friendly neighborhood pedant.

Yes, I stand corrected. I'm often in a subjunctive mood before I've had my coffee.

28th August. There now. I am preparing a definitive statement to appear on lotsa boards. I wish I understood the clever thing Stephen did which means I don't have to tell anyone my email address. But you can all do it through his magic portal. I've got some nice light verse already but I need LOTS more.

I didn't give enough examples of American light verse that I like. Stuff by Joe Kennedy. Stuff by Sam Gwynn. Stuff by a fellow who wasn't a poet at all called Newman Levy. Anyone who can write a lyric like Cole Porter is in there. Would that there were such. Isn't that the Optative mood?

Less than 12 lines is too short really. More than forty is (possibly) too long. When I think aboout it, this is the definitive statement unless anyone can think of something I have left out.

I have some copies of 'Making Love to Marilyn Monroe, which is the paperback version of 'The faber Book of Blue Verse'. When I have all the Light Verses in I shall select twelve and put them up here with my comments. Then you can all vote on the winners. And the overall winner gets a Marilyn Monroe, unless he/she has already got one or doesn't want one. In which case it goes to the next person along. I like prizes.

My email server says the address is invalid. I can't make out what is meant. Are the caps CAPS?
For others, leave off the stop at the end. I knew that much.
Sign here is part of the address?
Sorry to be stupid.