1.
On thin carpet there squatted a child born unlovely. He 
festered ‘neath the table and the dinner guest swore 
that he ate a beetle and then smiled! “But, on that’s 
nonsense! He’s never eaten my insects…
Though his chin is agleam with drool and many-jointed 
legs…

2.
On thin carpet they stood and each guest lulled the 
little larva- but reluctantly; so ugly! And he smelled 
like rotten codfish! And besides, he squirmed and 
writhed and in sudden fit of tears he took the colonel 
by the ears and bit him on the nose and grunted! (Blood 
on his crooked lips!)

3. 
On thin carpet they gasped and shrieked and coattails 
and lace unceremoniously recoiled from unlovely lullaby 
baby! And to the carpet he did plummet! And each guest 
did watch him hit and saw how his small skull did split 
and out crawled broken beetles and a surge of crimson 
forth! (Blood on the thin carpet!) (Blood on his 
crooked lips!)

“Shall we with draw to the parlor for aperitifs?”
“Yes, and my nose needs a bandage.”
“I find the present support for workhouse reforms 
disturbing.”
“I have Cousin in Marshalsea.”
“Sunday or Monday, We’re leaving for Retchingsted.”
“No, I don’t think I’ll ever have children…”