(for an outstanding article in PMLA) for the year 1968 was laid upon Stanley B. Greenfield's Grammar and meaning in poetry (PMLA 82.377-387 [1967]) in New York City on Fourth Day (four French hens, three turtledoves, etc.), but I guess he got money. In the following pages I will first demonstrate that this essay is a pointless, not very good article, then turn to asking why it was that the Most Valuable Essay of the year award was so made. This is not a pretty thing to feel compelled to do, but unless we face such questions squarely, we will continue to operate some great distance below the level of integrity displayed by the athletic world. To begin: Greenfield's essay seems to deal with but two matters: