THESE ARE ENTRIES TO A WASHINGTON POST COMPETITION ASKING FOR A RHYME WITH THE MOST ROMANTIC FIRST LINE, BUT THE LEAST ROMANTIC SECOND LINE:

I thought that I could love no other. Until, that is, I met your brother.

Roses are red, violets are blue, sugar is sweet, and so are you. But the roses are wilting, the violets are dead, The sugar bowl’s empty and so is your head.

I want to feel your sweet embrace. But don’t take that paper bag off of your face.

I see your face when I am dreaming. That’s why I always wake up screaming.

My love, you take my breath away. What have you stepped in to smell this way?

What inspired this amorous rhyme? Two parts vodka, one part lime.