I have used the word 'alas' in at least a dozen poems, including 'A Dream of Naked Women' and 'TUMPS'. This last is a coinage of Wendy Cope's and means 'Totally Useless Male Poets'. I should point out that Wendy agrees I am not a TUMP because I possess, and can drive, a car. The last line of TUMPS is 'And hearts (alas) are trumps.' The formulation 'And hearts (oh shit) are trumps' does not strike this poet's ear as seemly or euphonious.
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