Oh, thou Alpha Beta row, Fun and freedom's earliest foe, Shall I e'er forget the primer, Thumb'd beside some Mrs. Trimmer, -- While mighty problem held me fast, To know if Z was first or last? And all Pandora had for me Was emptied forth in A B C. Teasing things of toil and trouble, Fount of many a rolling bubble, How I strived, with pouting pain, To get thee quartered on my brain; But when the giant feat was done, How nobly wide the field I'd won! Wit, reason, wisdom, all might be Enjoyed through simple A B C. Steps that lead to topmost height Of worldly fame and human might, Ye win the orator's renown, The poet's bays, the scholar's gown; Philosophers must bend and say 'Twas ye who oped their glorious way. Sage, statesman, critic, where is he Who's not obliged to A B C? Ye really ought to be exempt From slighting taunt and cool contempt; But drinking deep from learning's cup, We scorn the hand that filled it up. Be courteous, pedants -- stay and thank Your servants of the Roman rank, For F. R. S. and LL. D. Can only spring from A B C. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...JACK CREAMER [OCTOBER 25, 1812] by JAMES JEFFREY ROCHE SING-SONG; A NURSERY RHYME BOOK: 45 by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI LITTLE BOATIE'; A SLUMBER SONG FOR THE FISHERMAN'S CHILD by HENRY VAN DYKE SPRING SONG by MAVIS CLARE BARNETT IF I AM SITTING CLOSE TO YOU by JESSIE DOWNS BELKNAP THE LOVE SONNETS OF PROTEUS: 66. THE THREE AGES OF WOMAN: 1 by WILFRID SCAWEN BLUNT |