The ABC

Spike Milligan 1918 (Ahmednagar, India) – 2002 (Rye, United Kingdom)



Twas midnight in the schoolroom
And every desk was shut
When suddenly from the alphabet
Was heard a loud "Tut-Tut!"

Said A to B, "I don't like C;
His manners are a lack.
For all I ever see of C
Is a semi-circular back!"

"I disagree," said D to B,
"I've never found C so.
From where I stand he seems to be
An uncompleted O."

C was vexed, "I'm much perplexed,
You criticise my shape.
I'm made like that, to help spell Cat
And Cow and Cool and Cape."

"He's right" said E; said F, "Whoopee!"
Said G, "'Ip, 'Ip, 'ooray!"
"You're dropping me," roared H to G.
"Don't do it please I pray."

"Out of my way," LL said to K.
"I'll make poor I look ILL."
To stop this stunt J stood in front,
And presto! ILL was JILL.

"U know," said V, "that W
Is twice the age of me.
For as a Roman V is five
I'm half as young as he."

X and Y yawned sleepily,
"Look at the time!" they said.
"Let's all get off to beddy byes."
They did, then "Z-z-z."
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Submitted by RobertHaigh on June 10, 2020

Modified on May 03, 2023

1:09 min read
314

Quick analysis:

Scheme XAXA BCBC BDBD XEXE BFBF XGXG XBXB BXDB
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 1,059
Words 222
Stanzas 8
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4

Spike Milligan

Terence Alan Patrick Seán Milligan KBE, better known as Spike Milligan, was born in British India. His talent for comedy was evident from an early age, and he found fame as a member of the Goons, along with Peter Sellers, Harry Secombe and Michael Bentine. He wrote many books, including volumes of comic verse. He was also a passionate campaigner for animal rights and the environment. more…

All Spike Milligan poems | Spike Milligan Books

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