Shapes of Clay

Jack Doe met Dick Roe, whose wife he loved,

And said: "I will get the best of him."

So pulling a knife from his boot, he shoved

It up to the hilt in the breast of him.

Then he moved that weapon forth and back,

Enlarging the hole he had made with it,

Till the smoking liver fell out, and Jack

Merrily, merrily played with it.

Then he reached within and he seized the slack

Of the lesser bowel, and, traveling

Hither and thither, looked idly back

On that small intestine, raveling.

The wretched Richard, with many a grin

Laid on with exceeding suavity,

Curled up and died, and they ran John in

And charged him with sins of gravity.

The case was tried and a verdict found:

The jury, with great humanity,

Acquitted the prisoner on the ground

Of extemporary insanity.