The Unicorn Contest
The puzzle: There is a unicorn picture hidden on my website. Find it.
In May, 1999, I said that the first person to find the hidden unicorn picture would get a sestina on the topic of his or her choice. Well, one of my former students found the unicorns, and requested a sestina about cheese. Here it is:
One Springish day the air was clear and still.
I had been a' napping in a field.
I thought I'd have a little bit of cheese.
It took some time but I sat up and rose.
I heard my name called out by someone who
Could not exist, it was a unicorn.
"How do you know my name, oh Unicorn?"
He said, "I saw it printed on your still.
And I was curious to find out who
Believed that he could just pollute my field.
I saw you sleeping and my temper rose
You inconsid'rate lump of moldy cheese!"
"I'm sorry that you think me moldy cheese,"
(I tried to soothe the angered unicorn.)
"I've not so much as even plucked a rose
So Lord forbid that I should build a still
And building things is not even my field
So someone else is guilty; don't know who."
"You look like Peter Townsend of the Who.
Do you eat meat?" "Not I, just bread and cheese.
Please let me live and I will leave your field."
"Don't go so quickly," said the unicorn,
"One question I have left to ask you still"
I looked relaxed but fear in my soul rose.
"You say that you have never plucked a rose.
Perhaps then you'd consent to tell me who
Left flowers by your backpack. Are you still
Pretending to be truthful?" I yelled "Cheese!"
(I'd nothing else to tell the unicorn,
Who looked so strong and scary in his field)
"You just yelled, 'Cheese!' while standing in my field!
You silly guy! My spirits now have rose!"
I had amused the angry unicorn
(Unused to talking to a person who
Would suddenly yell out a word like "Cheese!")
He laughed and laughed while I remained quite still.
Like Hill'ry Field, I was a person who
To challenge rose. I left and got my cheese.
The Unicorn is prob'ly laughing still.
Back to Main
Doug Code 5/2000: pqifrem'b lknk wk cm ombknmcboimcr qifpk is vcmhchkp im kyknu hinmkn, himpoeknomg qix xkrr vkivrk pkkt bi lomh qibhchkp pkrr? -cmeu vik