If you google ...washington post rhyme competition ... you'll get loads of websites telling you about a competition that the Washington Post ran a few years back and you'll see the 11 entries that get quoted on websites and in those emails that keep circulating round. Basically the competition was to come up with a very romantic first line and a very unromantic second line
I don't want to quote any of the entries here because Google will think this is just another 'me too' so here to illustrate is one that I just made up
I look into your eyes and see a love that’s true
Her name is Veronica. She’s why I’m leaving you
You get the idea. Try it yourself, it's fun. Anyway I got to thinking, could I do the same, but using first lines from William Shakespeare...who is more romantic than the Bard himself?
Here's what I came up with...forgive the slightly colourful language, which I use only in a way that Big Willy himself might have done
Shall I compare thee to a Summer's day?
Last Tuesday, for instance, wet, windy, cloudy and grey
Who taught thee how to make me love thee more
?
Sack him, for he’s failed miserably, that’s for sure
Good night, good night! parting is such sweet sorrow,
With the emphasis on sweet...I’m leaving you tomorrow
But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks
Your morning face gives me the colliwobble shakes
If I could write the beauty of your eyes
I’d just be telling whopping lies
Your eyes are lode-stars; and your tongue's sweet air
But your breath stinks and you’re shaped like a pear
The sweet silent hours of marriage joys
Are ruined by the noise of your vibrating toys
You are a lover; borrow Cupid's wings,
And piss off, I’ve packed all your things
O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo
?
I’m offsky with a wrangler from the rodeo
(Groan...you try rhyming with Romeo!)
Valentine Poems they're not!
But will they make it on to one of those circulating email thingys?