Book of Lists  (a villanelle/2004)

The ten most boring classics

According to the Book of Lists

Does not include K. Essex’

“The Man Who Slept”, nor is

“Maria” by Eduardo Pim

Among them, neither his

Unfinished opus “From

Vicenza to Biscayan Ocean

On Mule”. I do condemn

Such patent arbitration,

As probably would Enid Niven

Finding her “Absolution”

Way down at ninety-seven,

When Leo Tolstoy’s “War and Peace”

Has made it to eleven.