Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, EPITAPH ON THE PROOFREADER OF THE ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA, by CHRISTOPHER DARLINGTON MORLEY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

EPITAPH ON THE PROOFREADER OF THE ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Majestic tomes, you are the tomb
Last Line: They laid the index on his grave.
Alternate Author Name(s): Hall, Galway
Subject(s): Encyclopedia


Majestic tomes, you are the tomb
Or Aristides Edward Bloom,
Who labored, from the world aloof,
In reading every page of proof.

From A to And, and Aus to Bis
Enthusiasm still was his;
From Cal to Cha, from Cha to Con
His soft-lead pencil still went on.

But reaching volume Fra to Gib,
He knew at length that he was a sib
To Satan; and he sold his soul
To reach the section Pay to Pol.

Then Pol to Ree, and Shu to Sub
He staggered on, and sought a pub.
And just completing Vet to Zym,
The motor hearse came round for him.

He perished, obstinately brave:
They laid the Index on his grave.





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