A simple poet on a time,
Resolved to write a simple rhyme.
His verse was pleasing to the ear;
He also made his meaning clear.
The critics glanced at it, and said
Such rubbish they had never read.
A point on which they did agree,
With touching unanimity.
The simple poet took his lay,
And turned it round the other way.
Shuffled the sentences about,
And took a dozen commas out.
The critics took the volume, and
Read, marked--and failed to understand.
Then fell upon their stomachs flat,
This prodigy to marvel at.