October chill is in the air even when the sun shines and we count on this to bring us back to common sense after the delusions of summer. Back in August I was contemplating what to say when accepting the Nobel Prize in Literature and now I’m cleaning out boxes of stuff in my closet. If I were a Nobel winner, the University of Texas would offer me a couple million for the stuff but now they won’t so I’m donating it to recycling. Smart move.

Some people want to eliminate the shortstop to permit higher-scoring ball games and attract more women in the 20–30 demographic who are bored by shutouts and double plays and consider that a “perfect game” would be one with 20 or 30 triples, but wiser heads have prevailed, thanks to the chill in the air.

Some say the limerick is not

Long enough, that the limerick ought

To be brought up to date

From five lines to eight.

I give the matter no thought.

Five is enough, I’ve been taught.

Prefer seven? Give it a shot.

Eight crosses the line.

As the Germans say, “Nein.”         

But ten — you got the jackpot.

But the Academy of American Limericists has decided that a limerick is five lines. Period. Put it out of your mind.