In an attempt to
stay on the dry Keats and Chapman had spent the evening writing
traditional verse into which they sought to incorporate the names of
Japanese poetic forms. They read aloud their compositions, but found
them disappointing and as a result the two friends were becoming
irritable. Their self-enforced sobriety wasn't helping.
It
was late when Keats put down his pen, cleared his throat and intoned,
'From a lofty bough
The
dove bested the poet
With its own haiku'
Chapman
frowned and said, 'Not bad, but the humour's a little heavy-handed'
'Unlike
your use of 'tanka' in a limerick?', enquired Keats as they
simultaneously reached for the Bushmills.
