a/n: in "The Adventure of the Yellow Face", Watson muses on the difficulties in finding the right stories to publish, and is instructed on what to do if Holmes is not working to the best of his abilities... a Spenserian stanza.
Holmes and companions do not belong to me
The Duties of a Boswell
There's quite a lot of careful work involved,
In sorting out which tales are best to read.
If Holmes can't solve a case, it's rarely solved,
And lacks the firm conclusion which I need.
And, sometimes even Holmes ignores a lead,
And hints of over confidence appear.
If options are neglected then, indeed,
My duty to my friend is very clear;
I pause, and gently whisper "Norbury" in his ear.
~0~
a/n2: A Spenserian stanza, invented by Edmund Spenser (The Faerie Queen ). Nine lines, first eight in iambic pentameter (5 stresses); last one in iambic hexameter (6 stresses) Rhyme pattern abab bcbc c