Thanks for all of the responses.
Roger, I thought the exaggeration of "octuplets" would be funnier than a lower number and would suggest "excessive in number."
Mark, I am glad to hear that you saw the logic of the choice of "octuplets." "Overuse" suggests that a moderate use of rhymed couplets would be okay, but I am trying to suggest that being drawn to write in couplets seems a strange addiction to anyone but the bad writers themselves. I did concede that epigrams are an exception and that anyone who uses the form extremely well is also an exception.
Rick, satire always has an edge. If it doesn't offend some readers, it probably isn't doing its job. I meant the poem to have a suggestion of self-deprecation, since I am not Pope or Nash and yet am writing in couplets to show why it shouldn't be done. But also I am deliberately exaggerating for effect. "Twins" would definitely not work in L2. If there were just two lines, it would not have a chance to become tedious. "Couplets/octuplets" is an exact rhyme. What is bad about it? I am writing for other poets, who, I assume, have also had the experience of listening to excruciating doggerel from bad poets at some point. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Susan
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