A reader writes

A few days ago I blogged about the odd titles of each of the twenty volumes of the second edition of the Oxford English Dictionary - Cham, Creel, Dvandva, Follow, Hat, Interval, Look, and so on. See the complete list here.

The list, I suggested, offered an Oulipian challenge, and invited Salvēte readers to come up with a piece of prose or poetry incorporating all twenty words/non words. An enterprising soul who clearly has a lot of time to spare and wishes (understandably) to remain anonymous, took up my challenge and perpetrated the following eloquent doggerel. 

Su Moul a Cambodian-Celt

Hoist her creelhat with a wave as she knelt

In the soot of the quemadero

With a poise and a look that said follow!

She began to deliver her ser

("The Origins of Dvandva")

For the good of the unemancipated

With interest she was soon inundated

By a Cham from the old BBC

Who delivered a passionate plea

"Ow who will let poor Su Moul go?!

She is innocent and I should know -

'Tis a custom of our clan

Every eligible woman and man

Should wear a creel on their head

To announce an intention to wed

Now how was she to know that

A lobster'd set up home in her hat?

I make my appeal to the mob -

She had no intention to rob

And for this unintentional crime

She must kneel in the ashes and grime!"

The inquisitors looked very grave

Should they commit to the fire or save?

And begging a brief interval 

They debated whether to annul

Or if they should just see it thru?

Reader - what would YOU do?

Anonymous reader - we salute you!