The poet's foreword says he began all this on one fine day. It must have been finer than morning in an adjacent state by the looks of the result. What a sweep! What a breadth! What a memory! Who's left out here? Nobody I know. Virginia is 475 miles long but averages half that, which means here we have about one page per mile of her right across. He cautions that a reading voice with the proper pronunciation of 'Hanover' and 'Henrico' is advisable. So try this--THE POLECAT PRIZERAN OFF ALL OTHERSSome versifier came and sowedmany a thunderation ode.This got the Golden Polecat Prize,the one that draws the market flies,awarding a chief excellencethat chases all the others hence;puts to shame and in the shadethe Armadillo Accolade,and that eternal charnel foistso-called the yearly critics' choist.It strands our thunderation mootwhat's really worth a second hoot.For some 'twill always be roast beef,but, after that, Virginia leaf.