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Title: The Saving Clause
Author: Edmund Vance Cooke [
More Titles by Cooke]
Kerr wrote a book, and a good book, too;
At least I managed to read it through
Without finding very much room for blame,
And a good many other folks did the same.
But when any one asked me: "Have you read?"
Or: "How do you like?" I only said:
"Very good, very good! and I'm glad enough;
For his other writings are horrible stuff."
Banks wrote a play, and it had a run.
(That's a good deal more than ever I've done.)
The interest held with hardly a lag
From the overture to the final tag.
But when any one asked me: "Have you seen?"
Or: "What do you think?" I looked serene
And remarked: "Oh, a pretty good thing of its kind,
But I guess Mr. Shakespeare needn't mind!"
Phelps made a machine; 't was smooth as grease.
(I couldn't invent its smallest piece
In a thousand years.) It was tried and tried,
Until everybody was satisfied.
But when any one asked me: "Will it pay?"--
"Is it really good?"--I could only say:
"It's a marvelous thing! Why, it almost thinks!
And Phelps is a wonder--too bad he drinks!"
[The end]
Edmund Vance Cooke's poem: Saving Clause
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