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.