Here's the idea:

You write one verse of a short Po; then Andy (the Poet Laureate
otherwise known as knowitall22) writes one verse of a Limerick; and
finally you write the second and final verse of your Po.

The result: the first ever Pomerick (Trade Mark Applied For).

Of course, the 2nd and 3rd segments must flow logically from the 1st.

This first ever Pomerick should commemorate Tutuzdad's dramatic arrest
of Public Enemy #8. (See Question ID: 783604.) Poor Tutuzdad did not
get the reward that he deserved at the time, so this Pomerick should
provide ample although belated compensation for him.

Of course, you may use whatever poetic licence you consider appropriate.

Good Luck to you both!

Bryan
Patron of the Arts

---

Clarification of Question by probonopublico-ga on 18 Nov 2006 08:42 PST

I've just had a phone call from a very irate Andy.

He told me that 'I should give a list of topics and not a short list either'.

OK, Andy, here goes:

1: Why Denco never looks back;

2: Why Tutuzdad always gets 'interesting questions' to answer;

3: Why poetry was in terminal decline before my great initiative:

4: Where Myoarin has gone that will keep him away until 7 minutes past midnight;

5: Why some poets are (possibly) multi-talented - when most of them
aren't. Go on name ONE;

6: Why many questioners assume that they can receive legal advice on
GA without ever saying where they live (xenophobia?);

7: Why right now I can't think of any more topics.

Phew: Poet Laureates are such a picky lot!

Bryan

Bryan,

I have pulled together the bits and scraps of verse into a ragged (but
colorful) poetic quilt. As I finished this, I heard a strange whirring
noise. I suspect that it was the sound of Keats, Wordsworth, and
Longfellow rolling in their graves.

      IN PRAISE OF THE POMERICK (an introduction)

The pomerick is a polygot verse:
Its rhymes are atrocious, its rhythms are worse.
Diggerel doggerel, 
Pomericks everywhere.
Bryan has opened a
Fine can of worms:
Wordplay and groaners and
Metrical madrigals. 
Punnecessarily,
Everyone squirms.

Says Bryan, some others plus Pink
Should join in poetic group-think
We set up a new style
That will in a short while
Drive most of the poets to drink

While working our heads to the bone
King Bryan steps down from his throne
He's off to his beddy-bye
Hopes all will be ready by
The morrow, when he sets the tone

T'was the night before Christmas
And all through the house
Not a sound could be heard 
Except the clicking of Steph's mouse.

When suddenly her screen came alive
And brought up a page so huge and so grand.
She blinked her eyes over and over
For she had arrived in GA Land!

So this was just the beginning
Of many many hours she would spend here.
Posting silly comments for one and for all
Making new friends from afar and near.

Our Bryan is lord of the manor
And has a most delightful manner
For he keeps us amused
With questions I never refuse  
And his tips are larger than a tanner!

Our friend Know It All 22 ga 
Has a name that?s very bazaar
But his poems are great
While mine all grate
For he?s a laureate and the best by far

Pomerick, Pomerick, where do you go?
 "Pink's just a po girl who serves po-bono."
Pomerick, Pomerick, what do you say?
 "I'm all pommed out, and I'll call it a day."
Pomerick, Pomerick, what's in the future?
 "Shaddap with the 'Pomericks' or I'm gonna shoot yer."

      HEY, GOOD LOOKING (a collaborative pomerick for Denco) 

Denco's always looking forward,
Never gazing to the rear,
Ever, ever rowing shoreward
To the sunny new frontier.
Don't look back, there might be someone
Gaining on you, coming fast!
Denco surely won't become one
Who is locked into the past.
Denco's back is left unguarded:
That's what folks like me are for.
I'll keep watch, my fears discarded:
Onward! Upward! Excelsior!

A researcher whose handle is denco
Says payment for his work is just so-so
But once in a great while
A reward makes him smile
And he would be delighted to make mo

There once was a searcher named Denco
Who on stubbing his toe cried out Oh!
Too busy looking backward
He should have looked forward
Our Denco with a bruised toe aglow.

      TOP COP POP (a collaborative pomerick for Tutuzdad)

All questions are interesting to TTD,
And even more fun are the answers, you see.
The only dull thing's an inadequate fee,
'Cuz an underpriced Q is a crappy one.
I sing of the wonderful Tutuzdad,
No doubt the best poppa a child ever had,
And my song is a rollicking, snappy one.
Ah, when diaper-changing duty's to be done, to be done,
A policeman's lot is not a nappy one.

We need legal advice almost free
We're too cheap to pay up, don't you see?
Who cares where we're from?
You think we are dumb?
We are trying to *bargain* a plea

I?m compelled to submit my two cents
On the ?interesting questions? defense
It?s not always my answer that serves as enhancer 
But the customers? gracious expense.

On the issue of landing the best
I?m only luckier than some of the rest
On days when I?m slower my record is lower
And we, in ?their? work, are impressed

Now as for wanted outlaw
(Whose appearance I never foresaw)
Like the questions I claim, I deserve no real fame
That too was the luck of the draw 

Tutu(t?) wasn?t a glimmer in her daddy?s eye,
Back when he was a young cop hoofing the beat,
Twirling his stick and maintaining the peace,
Ready to chase each and every thug passing by.
And then one ?most wanted? stepped on his feet.
?I know you, you dastard, stand still there, just freeze!?

==========================================================

Thanks for the smiles. I needed 'em. :-)

Best always,
Pinkerick

Ah Pinkerick

You got one thing wrong ... I've not yet gone to bed ... BUT

Everything else is perfection and very enjoyable.

Very many thanks!

And also very many thanks to all the contributors.

Bryan

Shouldn't that be "Patron of the GARs?"

That, too, Denco ...

But if that is really you who posted the Comment ...

Should you not have signed off 'Looking Forward Denco'?

When you've got a great tag-line, use it!

Or someone might steal it from you.

Looking After You

Bryan

someone like me:

Looking forward Myoarin

PS:  I hope this is completed before I click out till 7.12.

Interesting question, Bryan. It is a challenge to share creative or
imaginative concepts, but it can be done. May be a bit time-consuming,
one line at a time. Perhaps the first two lines should be done by one
person.
   Limericks are not difficult if pursued as a personal quirk, as I
have done for many years. Team effort, who knows?

Says Bryan, some others plus Pink
Should join in poetic group-think
We set up a new style
That will in a short while
Drive most of the poets to drink
 See how easy?
Andy

There once was a GAR named denco,
Whose income from GA was only so-so.
But, once in a rare while,
He gets a payoff, and with a smile,
He is looking forward to getting mo.

Hi denco...good effort, but consider this guide to limericks: They
read more smoothly if the number of beats (syllables per line) are
equal in lines 1, 2 and 5, and are less, but matching in lines 3 and
4.  Thus:

A researcher whose handle is denco
Says payment for his work is just so-so
But once in a great while
A reward makes him smile
And he would be delighted to make mo

  Limerick structure is always aabba, with beats as mentioned above. 
Best regards,
Andy/K22

Bryan,

Here's a tiny 'po' about Tutuzdad:

All questions are interesting to TTD,
And even more fun are the answers, you see.
The only dull thing's an inadequate fee,
'Cuz an underpriced Q is a crappy one.
I sing of the wonderful Tutuzdad,
No doubt the best poppa a child ever had,
And my song is a rollicking, snappy one.
Ah, when diaper-changing duty's to be done, to be done,
A policeman's lot is not a nappy one.

~Po-freud

Bryan: We shall get to work immediately after we have rested somewhat
Pink: Marvelous beginning...dash off 8 or 10 more while I nap.
K22

LOL

We need legal advice almost free
We're too cheap to pay up, don't you see?
Who cares where we're from?
You think we are dumb?
We are trying to *bargain* a plea

Andy strikes again...

Brilliant, Pink, Many thanks ...

I am now looking forward to Andy's response ...

Maybe tomorrow?

Bryan

Denco's always looking forward,
Never gazing to the rear,
Ever, ever rowing shoreward
To the sunny new frontier.
Don't look back, there might be someone
Gaining on you, coming fast!
Denco surely won't become one
Who is locked into the past.
Denco's back is left unguarded:
That's what folks like me are for.
I'll keep watch, my fears discarded:
Onward! Upward! Excelsior!

Andy sneaked in when I thought he was off to bed!

Well done, Andy, you have really set things in Motion ... if I may be so bold.

And now I am signing off until tomorrow.

All the Best

Bryan

While working our heads to the bone
King Bryan steps down from his throne
He's off to his beddy-bye
Hopes all will be ready by
The morrow, whe he sets the tone

Well, droit du seigneur and all that.
K22

I?m compelled to submit my two cents
On the ?interesting questions? defense
It?s not always my answer that serves as enhancer 
But the customers? gracious expense.

On the issue of landing the best
I?m only luckier than some of the rest
On days when I?m slower my record is lower
And we, in ?their? work, are impressed

Now as for wanted outlaw
(Whose appearance I never foresaw)
Like the questions I claim, I deserve no real fame
That too was the luck of the draw  

:) Dad

I meant that I will be back on December 7, Pearl Harbor Day.

Tutu(t?) wasn?t a glimmer in her daddy?s eye,
Back when he was a young cop hoofing the beat,
Twirling his stick and maintaining the peace,
Ready to chase each and every thug passing by.
And then one ?most wanted? stepped on his feet.
?I know you, you dastard, stand still there, just freeze!?


Started weak and ended worse.  Wasn't sure how to spell "Tutu(t?)"

T'was the night before Christmas
And all through the house
Not a sound could be heard 
Except the clicking of Steph's mouse.

When suddenly her screen came alive
And brought up a page so huge and so grand.
She blinked her eyes over and over
For she had arrived in GA Land!

So this was just the beginning
Of many many hours she would spend here.
Posting silly comments for one and for all
Making new friends from afar and near.

Steph53

Tutuz: You have poetic talent. Fortunately, you have other more valuable skills.
Enjoyed your *pome*.
  Amazing how many regulars submitted poetry, if that's the right
word. Must be a trait common to all.
  Our friend Bryan has started a trend. He has a genius for causing
others to work. Remember his *1000 comments* question?
K22

We love it  - and him -  and especially sparring with someone with the
hubris to  call himself "knowitall".  ;-)

Anyone can be a poet.
Many, though, will ever know it.

Ergh!  Does one have to type correctly to be one?

"... will never know it."

Hi myoarin: Yes, I agree my handle is a bit much. Actually, all I know
is what I know, and much of that is untrue.
  Bryan and I are great friends...he and I have an ongoing dialogue.
Bryan is a truly remarkable person of many talents. As are so many
GARs and commenters. That is why GA can be a great forum at times.
Best regards,
K22

Wow ... Such talent!

My thanks to one and all, especially to Steph whose versification has
all the makings of a classic.

Style-wise, her lines rather reminded me of Clement Clarke Moore (who
died in 1863) and it now makes me wonder how long corpses can perform
their grave-turning stunts and whether or not the sound effects can be
heard in the churchyard.

Now, it's over to Pink to pull all these starnds together in the shape
of an Answer and - if posible - without plagiarising too many more
poets, dead or alive.

Exceptionally, permission is granted to offend Myoarin as much as
necessary because it was with much sadness that I noted his jealousy
of the multi-talented K22 who is also an artist of great renown (that
is if you can call Jackson Pollock-like stuff 'art').

Anyway, Myoarin is away now and when he gets back he is sure to have
forgotten his password and that will be that.

Bryan

I have never been so honored!

First, a corrective limerick by Andy, and then, wonders never ceasing, a po
of my own from the one, the only, lovely Pink!  Much, much thanks!

I am in the best of company.

Looking (Indeed!) Forward, denco-ga - Google Answers Researcher

Bryan, 
Great limericks. Your proposal sounds like the "I'm Sorry I Haven't a
Clue" team on Radio Four who have been doing this for years. Taking
turns to do a line each. They even brought out a book of them.

Sorry I Haven't a Clue: The Official Limerick Collection 
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Im-Sorry-Havent-Clue-Collection/dp/0752826808/sr=1-6/qid=1163845466/ref=sr_1_6/026-4092480-9668405?ie=UTF8&s=books

?To mark the programme?s success here is a hand-picked and fully
illustrated selection from the celebrated limerick round - which has,
in itself, become an institution. Starting with a single line, the
panellists have over the years created some of the finest Limericks in
the English language. Considering their limited grasp of any language,
this is some feat.?

Yours 
A great fan of the programme - answerfinder

There once was a searcher named Denco
Who on stubbing his toe cried out Oh!
Too busy looking backward
He should have looked forward
Our Denco with a bruised toe aglow.

Our Bryan is lord of the manor
And has a most delightful manner
For he keeps us amused
With questions I never refuse  
And his tips are larger than a tanner!

Our friend Know It All 22 ga 
Has a name that?s very bazaar
But his poems are great
While mine all grate
For he?s a laureate and the best by far

Wow, Answerfinder ...

Is there no end to your talent?

I shall now have to change my perception of you which, hitherto, had
you pigeon-holed as famously handy with truncheon, cuffs and whistle;
but rather unbemused by most Muses other than the A Muse.

Now, when Andy Motion steps aside, you are in line for a well-deserved pro-Motion.

Well done!

Bryan

Bryan,

Many thanx for the rewards, both stellar and monetary! I needed some
cheering-up, and this little project just the thing for turning my
frown upside-down. I doubt that any Pulitzer Prize is likely. The best
we are likely to do is this:

http://www.mortalwombat.com/Image/trophy.jpg

~Pink

With abject apologies to WBY:

Turning and turning to the all-knowing GARs
The pommie cannot hear the pomerick; 
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; 
Mere doggerel is loosed upon the world, 
The po-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The poetry of innocence is drowned; 
The best lack all construction, while the worst
Are full of pomerick insensity. 
Surely some revelation is at hand; 
Surely the Second Po-ing is at hand. 
The Second Po-ing! Hardly are those words out
When a vast epic out of Poetus Mundi
Troubles my night: somewhere in the sands of the desert
A po with lim'rick body and the head of a pome, 
A verse blank and pitiless as the sun, 
Is moving its slow rhymes, while all about it
Reel rhythms of the indignant desert po-s. 
The darkness drops again; but now I knowitall
That twenty-two centuries of stony sleep
were vexed to nightmare by a rocking pinkfreud, 
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
Slouches towards the GA-laxy to be born?

thaumaturge:  Very impressive pastiche...we are all in awe of Pink and you.
K22

Knowitall:

Thank you very much for the kind words but I'm sure I don't deserve to
be mentioned in the same sentence as the illustrious Pinkfreud.

'Twas the wine made me do it....

Excellent, thaumaturge-ga, but ...

Methinks that I did detect an Ozzie idiom here and there ...

Who else but an Ozzie would refer to a Man of UK as a 'Pommie'?

I've visited the Land of Oz on several occasions but I cannot recall
ever having met you.

My loss!

Bryan

Bryan,

It is not surprising that we did not meet in Oz as I have never been there.

(So you see you've had a very lucky escape.)

'Pommie' just seemed very tempting in the context. And you know that
the only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it.

thaumat-urge

My mistake, thaumaturge ...

But now I see that you spelled 'centre' as it should be spelled ...

And, being so literate, you must therefore belong to the Land of UK.

Congratulations on your good taste!

Bryan

Your deduction is perfect, mon capitaine. (Although many who know me
might argue about my imputed literacy and good taste.)

I had the misfortune to spend a fair number of years in the Colonies,
but they did not manage to subvert my spelling despite employing every
means at their disposal to try to force these hideous errors.

Hello again, thaumaturge-ga

I note that you had 'the misfortune' to spend a fair number of years
in the Colonies.

That can mean only one thing ... you must have been in a Penal Colony,
most probably Guantanamo Bay.

I understand that a lot of folk who have to serve time try their hand at poetry.

Oscar Wilde, I recall, wrote 'The Ballad of Reading Gaol':

He did not wear his scarlet coat,
  For blood and wine are red,
And blood and wine were on his hands
  When they found him with the dead,
The poor dead woman whom he loved,
  And murdered in her bed.

Much later, Lord Alfred Douglas (Wilde's little playmate known as
'Bosie') wrote 'In Excelsis'.

I shall not quote from 'In Excelsis' because nowadays it would not be
considered politically correct.

Anyhow, more of your cellular verse (if unexcelsis-like) are welcome.

Bryan

Small world!

Aha! The plot thickens.

I was aware of the Wilde (I notice I 'forgot' to attribute an earlier
quotation to him) / Bosie relationship and its unfortunate
consequences to His Oscarness, but was ignorant of 'In Excelsis'. A
quick Google reveals not only startling parallels in that Bosie had
spent time in gaol for losing a libel suit, which he blamed for his
subsequent poor health, but that

... drum roll ... 

he spent his declining years in Brighton and Hove.

As a long-time snooper on these pages, I think that this may have some
meaning for you.

As for your suspicions regarding Guantànamo Bay, I can only say that
it was far, far worse than that.

It was Detroit.

There is no poetry in Detroit.

Yes, thaumaturge-ga, Bosie passed away in my fair city.

He had libelled Winston Churchill of all people by claiming that,
during WWI, he had manipulated the news following the Battle of
Jutland for his own financial gain. This resulted in a Criminal Libel
charge.

So your period of penal servitude was spent in Detroit ...

That must mean Tamla Motown and that you are a lyricist!

I bet that you are now stinking rich.

Do you still keep in touch with Diana, Mary, Cindy, Martha, Gladys, etc?

If so, how are they these days?

Bryan
aka Envious of Hove

Bryan,

I am sorry to inform you that Motown packed up & left Detroit many
years ago, as any sensible person would.

However, I did find myself in the same room as Aretha Franklin once,
watching her son's band play at a club.

Unfortunately this experience did not enrich me, at least not in terms
of filthy lucre. By all accounts, Ms. Franklin keeps as much of that
for herself as possible.

Found an excerpt from 'In Excelsis'. Rather wish I hadn't! Not only is
the content vile, but the poetry is execrable. Haven't read anything
as poor since I was forced to read 'self-reflexive Puritan poetry' by
a sadistic university professor.

thaumaturge