till better flounder

bail bail till better
founder

So runs an uncollected late poem included in the new Beckett Selected Poems 1930-1989. What the notes to this edition don’t tell you, however, is that the poem began as Beckett’s attempt to write an advertising slogan for a charity that helped the partially sighted:

Braille Braille till better
blinder

A second draft played on Beckett’s love of a certain Belgian singer-songwriter, who he felt deserved more airplay on French radio:

Brel Brel till better
blander

While another again recorded his impressions of the fish suppers he scoffed on a trip to Hull:

brill brill till better
flounder

‘till battered flounder’ even, perhaps. Any other suggestions? Go on, you know you want to.