One day a letter died …

and all the consonants

and vowels remaining cried

with doleful resonance

and every other letter,

yes, even B and Y

said, "None of us is better.

We'll perish, by and by."

Much silent for their chum

stayed C, H, U and M,

S, A and D were dumb.

None was as sad as them.

The mighty vowel, E,

with W and O,

said, "Here's our destiny.

Let's utter one last 'woe'!"

The Q, Z, X and J

rang out the passing-bell

with P, R, T and K

and V, G, N and L

then gathered with the F

and no one heard their cries

and all the world grew deaf

to language's demise.

But who began it all?

Who said words must die?

Who was the first to fall?

I'm sorry it was I.