The Old Hanging Fork and Other Poems Part 16

I'm going to make it thrilling, crisp and short, In purest diction drest, with gems of thought So intermingled with the story's warp and woof, That from beginning I can scarcely keep aloof.

I'll put quotation marks to shrive me of the sin Of plagiarism when such language I begin-- That every one of you may plainly see I tell the story as 'twas told to me.

So calmly, coolly then, I think I will proceed To give you now the story--taking heed To curtail all that truth and justice will permit-- Remembering that "brevity's the soul of wit."

But undue haste would cause me to forget And mar the memory of its telling with regret If I had overlooked some startling fact, Which on both truth and justice would re-act!

And now, dear friends, don't think that you are "sold"

If still as yet the story's left untold-- But paper, ink, your patience, and my time Are all exhausted in this race with rhyme!