var PoetList = function() {
    this.el = null;
    this.sort = null;
}

var plist = new PoetList();

Event.observe(window, 'load', function() {
    plist.el = $('poetlist'); 
    new Ajax.Updater(plist.el, '../public/poetlist.php?sort='+plist.sort);
})

function sortPoets(sort)
{
    plist.sort = sort;
    new Ajax.Updater(plist.el, '../public/poetlist.php?sort='+plist.sort);
}