Interesting! A line drawn in the Poemranker sand. A supposition about marriage labeled as “woman.” Do you mean that a woman is incapable of commitment to the degree presented in the poem, and a man is? Perhaps you think only a man is that strong or that foolish. Maybe you mean that what I am really saying is that I want this kind of commitment from the man I marry, and that no woman can expect that.

You understand the supposition of the narrator, that he or she is not promising, but thinking about promises. When we say, “til death do us part” and “for better or worse,” how different is that from the promises considered in the poem?

No, I think your line is drawn in less sensible sand. They usually are when living is at stake. I’m guessing that some of my lines have dredged up a woman’s meanness. For that I apologize on behalf of the sex for all the times we have demanded promises from our men, when it’s not his promises that make us happy, but his surprises.

Please return here at the Dear Dovina column as often as you wish.

Your green nesting box lies with my red one (shurely no pun could be intended) so you must be responding to me. I can't understand many things, some of them I call zodiacian, even Dovinian.

All three of you are drunk and seeing double.

Thanks, J. You would not want to tangle with her. The best advice I can offer is buy her expensive gifts and treat her like a lady.

Thanks for the explanation. Some good points there. The caps are inconsistant, and I might make them all caps in keeping with Feudal tradition. I'll take a hard look at the rest. thanks.

This is not logical, Dan, so unlike you. If they count in base 6 then our Area 59 would be Area 135. But then, I suppose they can have an Area 54 it they want to. Sorry if I offend a cherished belief.

Not a bad title. She is a bit feisty.

I'd like to hear what "word-heavy" means to you here. You must realize that I wanted to keep the chess images flowing and certain words are needed for that.

I am afraid you are bored, because it is about chess. It is also about a relationship I don't know what you mean by "the look" or why that would make you scared.

I was afraid someone would take the word "queen" in this way. Must it be you, O friend Brutus? You see, chess is a very old game, mayby oder even than the "queens" you speak of, though I doubt it, Greeks being as they were and all.

I like "deem" but zodiac will dislike it for that reason and impute his dislike to something quite literary or enstooling.

Do they have an Area 59?

No, I did not hear that, but I want a Print-A-Good-Man machine. The kind out there on the street all come with too many self-inflicted faults.

No, but it has that Shakespeare sonnet feel.