For Better Or Verse

Self-styled and self-published, the ‘Limerick Man’ turns a fine phrase, loves music and supports worthy causes

- George R. Roberts

There’s a hymn from my choir days titled, “I Love to Tell the Story.” And I just so happen to have a story I’d love to tell. For Better or Verse was hatched when my close friend Anne Jarvis said, “You’ve got all these limericks; why don’t you create some more and write a book?” So I did. As soon as I was done, we went to see FriesenPress, a self-publishing company here in Victoria. Nine months later, in 2017, the book was published.

Many of the limericks I already had on hand were written back in 1997, and were inspired by the 350-voice choir I sang in. We’d spend a half an hour or so before practice showing off our literary chops and many of my limericks came into being right there, usually as a tribute to my fellow singers, like this one from chapter two:

“Will you ever forget our wee Pat

She was known as a swingin’ hep cat

Pat went out each night

Till dawn’s early light

Then sat with the milkman to chat.”