“The Gashlycrumb Tinies,” Edward Gorey
A is for Amy who fell down the stairs.
B is for Basil assaulted by bears.
C is for Clara who wasted away.
D is for Desmond thrown out of a sleigh.
E is for Ernest who choked on a peach.
F is for Fanny sucked dry by a leech.
G is for George smothered under a rug.
H is for Hector done in by a thug.
I is for Ida who drowned in a lake.
J is for James who took lye by mistake.
K is for Kate who was struck with an axe.
L is for Leo who swallowed some tacks.
M is for Maud who was swept out to sea.
N is for Neville who died of ennui.
O is for Olive run through with an awl.
P is for Prue trampled flat in a brawl.
Q is for Quentin who sank in a mire.
R is for Rhoda consumed by a fire.
S is for Sue who perished of fits.
T is for Titus who flew into bits.
U is for Uma who slipped down a drain.
V is for Victor squised under a train.
W is for Winnie imbedded in ice.
X is for Xerxes devoured by mice.
Y is for Yorick whose head was knocked in.
And Z is for Zillah who drank too much gin.
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“The Gashlycrumb Tinies: or, After the Outing,” was published in 1963. It’s an abecedarian book/poem (i.e. it uses every letter of the alphabet) in rhyming dactylic couplets. To see the rest of images that go along with the poem, click here. I don’t think I have to tell you why I used this poem today, but just in case you missed it: Happy (early) Halloween! Be safe or you may wind up in a new version of Gorey’s poem.