THE GURGLING IMPS

THE Gurgling Imps of Mummery Mum
Lived in the Land of the Crimson Plum,
And a language very strange had they,
'Twas merely a chattering ricochet.
The Gurgling Imps of Mummery Mum
Caught hummingbirds for the sake of the hum,
Their cheeks were flushed with a sable tinge,
Their eyelids hung on a silver hinge.
The Gurgling Imps of Mummery Mum
Called each other "My charming chum,"
And floated in tears of joy to see
Their relatives hung in a cranberry tree.
The Gurgling Imps of Mummery Mum
Stole the whole of a half of a crumb,
And a wind arose and blew the Imps
Way off to the Land of the Lazy Limps.

THE WORM WILL TURN

I'M a gentle, meek, and patient human worm;
Unattractive,
Rather active,
With a sense of right, original but firm.
I was taught to be forgiving,
For my enemies to pray;
But what's the use of living
If you never can repay
All the little animosities that in your bosom burn—
Oh, it's pleasant to remember that "the worm will turn."
I'm so gentle and so patient and so meek,
Unpretending,
Unoffending.
But if, perchance, you smite me on the cheek,
I will never turn the other,
As I was taught to do
By a puritanic mother,
Whose theology was blue.
Your experience will widen when explicitly you learn
How a modest, mild, submissive little worm will turn.
I'm so subtle and so crafty and so sly.
I am humble,
But I "tumble"
To the slightest oscillation of the eye.
When others think they're winning
A fabulous amount,
Then I do a little sinning
On my personal account,
And in my quiet, simple way a modest stipend earn
As they slowly grasp the bitter fact that worms will turn.
Oh, human worms are curious little things;
Inoffensive,
Rather pensive
Till it comes to using little human stings.
Oh, then avoid intrusion
If you would be discreet,
And cultivate seclusion
In an underground retreat.
And whenever you are tempted the lowly worm to spurn,
Just bear in mind that little line, "The worm will turn."

THE BOSTON CATS