 |
| “Why me?” said the Drang,
in a sulky mood. “Why should I be the one to go?” But the Peerless Goth only closed his eyes, Which dismissed the matter, you know. |
| So, the Drang fetched
up his grundle And went herrilly on his way, But not without a sour snout And more that he dare not say. |
| The Cuspis offered no
complaint And quietly went to his chores, But his hard pressed lips gave his soul away, For such tasks, he simply abhors! |
| “I won't! I won't!”
raved the Ugly Grunch. “I'll never do it, again! This is positively the very last time!” And he, too, went herrilly fenn. |
| “So! Now, at last,
you've come to me,” Said the Frice, “but do as you may, I'm really quite self-sufficient, you know. I needn't do as you say! |
| It's just lucky for you,
that this time I will, But be warned that you stand alone, For I side with the Ugly Grunch and the Drang, And the Cuspis is only on loan!” |
| Thus, it progressed for
some period of time And the Goth kept the system intact, And the work was done, and new tasks assigned, But the Goth grew disgusted. In fact, |
| Finally, the Goth, in
a fit of his own, Vanished right into thin air And the Drang, and the Frice, and the Ugly Grunch And the Cuspis could find nothing there! |
| Oh, how they cried in
ecstasy! “We're free to do as we will!” “What shall it be?” they cried, in glee, But there came a sudden chill, |
| For they hadn't a single
thing to do Until, with much foam and froth, They came to a brilliant conclusion. They'd seek another Goth! |
| At last, everything was
settled. The new Goth was very bright. Everything began with a brand new zeal, Until, on a sultry night, |
| “Why me?” whined the
Drang, in a sulky mood. “Why should I be the one to go?” But the Peerless Goth only closed his eyes And the rest of the story, you know. |
| This is one of three
poems originally published in OPUS, the CalPoly, Pomona Quarterly.
It is also the one I told at David Pinto's party that set up “The Twaddle
and the Gurck!” I admit I am especially fond of it. Coaches,
bandleaders, scoutleaders, producers, directors, shop foremen or anyone
else who has ever had to manage a crew will know exactly what I mean.
— Travis
Edward Pike, Otherworld Cottage, 1999
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