Since the topic of this thread is derailing, then derailing it is actually staying on topic, but staying on topic counts as derailing. So, I will stay on topic... er... derail... uh... Nevermore... I mean... Never mind.
About 10 years ago I was a member of another Christian forum. There was a thread at that time called "Rhyming time", in which I posted the following poem... of sorts. A few things need explaining so people can understand it.
Grammalamma, Lozzie and dsdumpling are user names of other people on who posted in the same thread.
Lozzie was from Australia.
There was another thread called "One Line Limericks"
I had not posted anything recently, hence the title. I have since changed it to "An Ode to Plagiarism".
A lament of my inability to rhyme recently
(With apologies to E.A. Poe)
Once upon a midnight dreary as I pondered weak and weary
over many a rhyming dreary that was sure to greatly bore
suddenly there came a tapping as of someone gently rapping
as of someone gently rapping, tapping on my office door
Someone rapping on my door, just some guest and nothing more
The rapping it went on and on, the visitor would not be gone
and I sat there all alone, so I got up, went to the door
I opened it, what did I see, not man nor woman seeking me
but a bird perched in a tree, outside of my office door.
A tree outside my office door? Just a dream and nothing more.
Since 'twas a dream I said hear ye, oh, raven perched up in a tree
won't you come in and speak with me of rhyming time and more
In ChristianForums folks do rhyme. They do so ever, all the time
In One Line Limericks, Rhyming Time but i can rhyme no more
The inspiration, it is gone, and I can rhyme no more.
Outlandish! Poppycock! Absurd! You well can rhyme then said the bird.
Just plagiarise what you have heard, just that and nothing more.
From William Blake or E.A. Poe, Just steal a rhyme and off you go
and no one else will ever know that you can rhyme no more
No one else will ever know you've plagiarized and nothing more
Just change it slightly don't you see, or you'll find in jail you'll be
for plagiarism instantly or perhaps on some Plutonian shore
where dead men all eventualy walk and no one is allowed to talk
except one raven who doth squak the single utt'rance "nevermore"
(Will I be sued for "some Plutonian shore" and "nevermore"?)
I find that I can rhyme again, and even though quite long it's been
since I have rhymed, I rhyme again and in the future I will more.
I'll rhyme of Grammalamma dear, the Ausie Lozzie without fear
I'll rhyme of dsdumpling here, of all of these and more.
Because a raven taught me how, I'll rhyme of these and more.
I thanked the bird, away he flew to tell somebody, maybe you
of how to rhyme again, anew in Rhyming Time and more
I thanked him as he flew away and to the raven I did say
godspeed and happines I pray will follow you forevermore
Then the raven flew away, who knows, maybe to your door.
The TOG
very good.
