Such Is Fame!

When he started writing verses

     Called himself a poet he;

Writing for the village papers

     With amazing frequency.

When he branched a bit and added

     To his literary fame

It was then he signed, resplendent,

     “Poet-writer” to his name.

When he really got to writing,

     “Judge” and “Puck” and “Life” his list,

He was known to the profession

     Simply as a humorist.

When he settled on a daily,

     And his real life-work began,

All his classic titles tumbled

     Down to just “the funny man”.

March 13, ‘09