Mark These Words, Mr. Twain
2009
*Note: This poem was created using a word bank created by common words and phrases of Mark Twain*
“It’s an outrage!”
The violet-faced
Mayor fumed.
“Those contemptible brats
Wandering the streets
In nothing, but, well, nothing!”
“You see, um, sir,”
His mousey assistant replied,
“The money committed
To raising the poverty level
Was remarked as funds
For, uh, pay increases?”
“To Hell with that!”
The Mayor screamed.
“Heaven knows the hard work
I do here – day after day.
Courting the affluent.”
The assistant displayed
An awkward smile
At the Mayor’s troubled face.
“Do you find something humorous?”
The Mayor seethed.
But the assistant simply
Complimented the Mayor’s astuteness
And turned to watch
The children outside.
“Mark my words!
Those damn children
Will corrupt everyone
With their naked influence!”
“Forgive me, sir,”
The assistant replied
As he stripped off
His last piece of clothing.
“I wasn’t listening.”
