Dead Joke and The Funny Man

<SPAN name="startofbook"></SPAN> <h3> THE DEAD JOKE AND THE FUNNY MAN<br/> </h3> <p class="poem"> Long years ago, a funny man,<br/> <SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Flushed with a strange delight,</SPAN><br/> Sat down and wrote a funny thing<br/> <SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">All in the solemn night;</SPAN><br/> And as he wrote he clapped his hands<br/> <SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">And laughed with all his might.</SPAN><br/> <SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 2em">For it was such a funny thing,</SPAN><br/> <SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 2em">O, such a very funny thing,</SPAN><br/> <SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 2em">This wonderfully funny thing,</SPAN><br/> <SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">He</SPAN><br/> <SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 2em">Laughed</SPAN><br/> <SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 3em">Outright.</SPAN><br/></p> <p class="poem"> And so it was this funny man<br/> <SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Printed this funny thing&mdash;</SPAN><br/> Forgot it, too, nor ever thought<br/> <SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">It worth remembering,</SPAN><br/> Till but a day or two ago.<br/> <SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">(Ah! what may changes bring!)</SPAN><br/> <SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 2em">He found this selfsame funny thing</SPAN><br/> <SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 2em">In an exchange&mdash;"O, funny thing!"</SPAN><br/> <SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 2em">He cried, "You dear old funny thing!"</SPAN><br/> <SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">And</SPAN><br/> <SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 2em">Sobbed</SPAN><br/> <SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 3em">Outright.</SPAN><br/></p> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />