An Obituarian + 

A newspaper Death-poet sat at his desk, + 

Wrapped in appropriate gloom; + 

His posture was pensive and picturesque, + 

Like a raven charming a tomb. + 

Enter a party a-drinking the cup + 

Of sorrow⁠—and likewise of woe: + 

“Some harrowing poetry, Mister, whack up, + 

All wrote in the key of O. + 

“For the angels have called my old woman hence + 

From the strife⁠—where she fit mighty free. + 

It’s a nickel a line? Cond⁠⸺⁠n the expense! + 

For wealth is now little to me.” + 

The Bard of Mortality looked him through + 

In the piercingest sort of a way: + 

“It is much to me though it’s little to you⁠— + 

I’ve taken a wife to-day.” + 

So he twisted the tail of his mental cow + 

And made her give down her flow. + 

The grief of that bard was long-winded, somehow⁠— + 

There was reams and reamses of woe. + 

The widower man which had buried his wife + 

Grew lily-like round each gill, + 

For she turned in her grave and came back to life! + 

Then he cruel ignored the bill. + 

Then Sorrow she opened her gates a-wide, + 

As likewise did also Woe, + 

And the death-poet’s song, as is heard inside, + 

Is sang in the key of O. + 