Given the potential randomness of poetic fashion, be it contrived or otherwise, it strikes me that a simple punctuation mark can change the entire meaning of a tome. For example, how about one of the few Christmas carols I can stomach: God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen.
Now, most people you might ask would tell you that the comma goes after "Ye." Nay. It goes after "Merry," thus taking a song that could be about how comfortable a happy man may leave this world, into a realm of "may you go in peace after struggling against the toils and evils of this world, stuck in a do-nothing existence, buggering when possible and thumbing your nose to no avail against the proletariat." Or something like that.
Just thought I'd stir up an empty pot.
Now, most people you might ask would tell you that the comma goes after "Ye." Nay. It goes after "Merry," thus taking a song that could be about how comfortable a happy man may leave this world, into a realm of "may you go in peace after struggling against the toils and evils of this world, stuck in a do-nothing existence, buggering when possible and thumbing your nose to no avail against the proletariat." Or something like that.
Just thought I'd stir up an empty pot.
