Side Quest Limericks
December 6, 2018 8:35 AM   Subscribe

Side Quest Limericks
I write goofy limericks to strangers, seal them in envelopes, and leave them in public places with strict instructions that they only be opened by someone bearing the name on the envelope.

There's not really much to see at the website; by the nature of the project, most of the "content" is viewable only in physical form by strangers I've never actually met. But I thought folks on MeFi might like the concept. My practice of spreading joy / whimsy / bewilderment to random strangers was inspired by many of the people on this site, particularly the wonderful souls of the MeFi Card Club (and Fig who runs it), the various swaps (Quonsar, holiday cookies, etc.) that have evolved over the years here, and Shepherd's Tiniest Gallery project. Thank you, Metafilter, for being such positive influences!
Role: creator, goofball
posted by duffell (5 comments total) 5 users marked this as a favorite

This is delightful! I'm so glad this project is out in the world.
posted by mochapickle at 9:02 AM on December 7, 2018 [2 favorites]


A "Tex-Mex Sicilian" sounds like something that should be 20 bucks, same as in town.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 2:12 PM on December 7, 2018 [2 favorites]


This is very delightful!! What a wonderful little project to pleasantly surprise strangers.
posted by Fig at 2:52 PM on December 8, 2018 [2 favorites]


Oh. I think if I found an envelope with instructions that I should only open it if my name were Robert or whatever, that I would be terribly tempted to open it anyway... because, curiosity. There might be a story in this.... choice paths: I do not open it but later on go back and see if it is still there. It is not; it is. I open it and read the limerick and believe it is a clue, or a spy message. I copy it/do not copy it. I take the envelope away so I can re-seal it and put it back, or I just leave it opened, sitting there. I worry that a breeze will blow it away somehow, maybe it is important! (It is sitting on a public bench in a plaza somewhere.) I look around for a small rock to weight it down with. The rock must not be so large that it will obscure the name but it has to be heavy enough to keep the little paper envelope from blowing away.

It starts to rain. I cannot find a rock. I think about taking it with me and bringing it back when the weather is better, but what if Robert arrives and it is not there? Maybe he is expecting this message. I suddenly feel I have made a mistake, I have altered someone else's life path. Maybe for the worse. I decide to wait for Robert and make sure everything is all right. Own up to my snooping in his envelope.

But Robert never comes. I know this because I am now wearing a sign reading "If your name is Robert, I have a message for you."

I consider changing my name to Robert.
posted by luaz at 8:00 PM on December 27, 2018 [1 favorite]


Thanks for letting me riff off your project. It is a fun thing you're doing!
posted by luaz at 3:16 AM on December 28, 2018 [2 favorites]


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