A Symmetric To-Do List

Headmaster’s Palindromic List on His Memo Pad

Test on Erasmus Dr. of Law
Deliver slap Stop dynamo (OTC)
Royal: phone no.? Tel: Law re Kate Race
Ref. Football. Caps on for prep
Is sofa sitable on? Pots — no tops
XI — Staff over Knit up ties (“U”)
Sub-edit Nurse’s order Ned (re paper)
Caning is on test (snub slip-up) Eve’s simple hot dish (crib)
Birch (Sid) to help Miss Eve Pupil’s buns
Repaper den T-set: no sign in a/c
Use it Red roses
Put inkspot on stopper Run Tide Bus?
Prof. — no space Rev off at six
Caretaker (wall, etc.) Noel Bat is a fossil
Too many d—- pots Lab to offer one “Noh” play–or “Pals Reviled”?
Wal for duo? (I’d name Dr. O) Sums are not set.
See few owe fees (or demand IOU?)

— Winning entry in a New Statesman palindrome competition, 1967

| Language

Lipogram Pangram

This verse is a combined lipogram and pangram: Each stanza omits the letter e but includes every other letter of the alphabet:

A jovial swain should not complain
Of any buxom fair,
Who mocks his pain and thinks it gain
To quiz his awkward air.

Quixotic boys who look for joys
Quixotic hazards run;
A lass annoys with trivial toys,
Opposing man for fun.

A jovial swain might rack his brain,
And tax his fancy’s might;
To quiz is vain, for ’tis most plain
That what I say is right.

— W.S. Walsh, Handy-Book of Literary Curiosities, 1892

| Language · Poems