A REASONABLE AFFLICTION
Mathew Prior 1718

On his death-bed poor Lubin lies;
His spouse is in despair;
With frequent sobs, and mutual cries,
They both express their care.

"A different cause," says Parson Sly,
"The same effect may give:
Poor Lubin fears, that he shall die;
His wife, that he shall live."

MALU'S VERSION
2012

On its death-bed the computer lies;
Its owner is in despair;
Husband is glad, but MALU cries,
They both express their care.

"A different cause," says Parson Sly,
"The same effect may give:
Poor MALU fears that it shall die;
The husband, that it may live."

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COMPOSED UPON WESTMINSTER BRIDGE
William Wordsworth 1802

Earth has not anything to show more fair:
Dull would he be of soul who could pass by
A sight so touching in its majesty:
This City now doth, like a garment, wear
The beauty of the morning; silent, bare,
Ships, towers, domes, theatres, and temples lie
Open unto the fields, and to the sky;

All bright and glittering in the smokeless air.
Never did sun more beautifully steep
In his first splendour, valley, rock or hill;
Ne'er saw I, never felt, a calm so deep!
The river glideth at his own sweet will:
Dear God! The very houses seem asleep;
And all that mighty heart is lying still!

MALU'S VERSION
2012

The net has not anything to show more fair:
Dull would he be of soul who could browse by
A site so touching in its majesty:
This site now does, like a garment, wear
The beauty of opinions; thorough, fair
On soap, PCs, Olympic Games and lit for chicks,
Waiting for the readers and their clicks.

Some brill, some boring, some on topics rare.
Never will anyone buy again anything bad.
Others informative, clever, funny or sad
On thingywhatsits, problems, virtues and vice.
Oh dear, we now know what's good in a product or bad,
On 'puters, printers, man and white mice
And above all where to get the best price!

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A KISS
Austin Dobson 1874

Rose kissed me today.
Will she kiss me tomorrow?
Let it be as it may,
Rose kissed me today,
But the pleasure gives way
To a savour of sorrow;
Rose kissed me today,
Will she kiss me tomorrow?

MALU'S VERSION
2012

Got a crown today.
Will I get one tomorrow?
Let it be as it may,
Got a crown today,
But the pleasure gives way
To a savour of sorrow;
Got a crown today,
Will I get one tomorrow?

______________________________


SONG, TO CELIA
Ben Jonson 1607

Come, my Celia, let us prove,
While we may, the sports of love;
Time will not be ours forever,
He at length our good will sever.
Spend not then his gift in vain;
Suns that set may rise again,
But if once we lose this light,
'Tis with us perpetual night.
Why should we defer our joys?
Fame and rumour are but toys.
Cannot we delude the eyes
Of a few poor household spies?
Or his easier ears beguile,
So removèd by our wile?
'Tis no sin, love's fruit to steal;
But the sweet theft to reveal,
To be taken, to be seen,
These have crimes accounted been.

MALU'S VERSION
2012

Come on, dooyooers, let us write,
While we may, on this here site;
Time will not be ours forever
A silly bug the line can sever.
We don't do what we do in vain,
Not all cats pay, though, what a shame!
Let's write on tea-bags, coffee, Sprite,
On whisky, beer and Cola Lite,
The gadgets every boy enjoys,
Computers, printers, father's toys.
Bright colours can delude the eyes
But not the ones of mystery spies;
They go to shops and spend a while
Behaving well and with a smile,
Then they rush home and do reveal
If things are bad or a good deal.
Sides are taken, opinions seen
On dooyoo as it's always been.

_______________________


BIOGRAPHY FOR BEGINNERS
SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN
Edmund Clerihew Bentley 1905

Sir Christopher Wren
Said, "I am going to dine with some men.
If anybody calls
Say I am designing St. Paul's."

MALU'S VERSION
2012

Malu, a German Frau,
Said, "I also post on ciao.
Should anybody ask
Say she's tackling the task."

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In 2004 Ciao member Kirsty1 created this challenge. She isn't active any more. I'm sure she's got nothing against my transferring the poems I wrote then (slightly altered) onto dooyoo and inviting you to join and revive the challenge.

From Kirsty1's invitation:

Allow me to persuade you, to entice and inveigle you, allow me to tempt you to take one of our national poetic treasures (or any old obscure poetic nonsense for that matter!) write it out in full including the title and the name of the poet and then write your rip off reply below it. You can rip it off in any way you see fit - as long as we can broadly tell what you are ripping off!

Come on!
If I can do that, you can, too,
And if you don't, then shame on you!