Julian Tuwim
The Alphabet

The alphabet fell off the bed,
And thumped onto the floor,
Scattered all around the room,
And got really sore:
I – misplaced its little dot,
H – was bridge-like, now it’s not,
B’s two tummies got all bruised,
A – got both its legs confused,
O – just burst like a balloon,
making P roll eyes and swoon,
T – can’t find its little hat,
L – jumped inside U at that,
S – got straighter than a die,
R’s right leg snapped at the thigh,
W – landed on its head
and pretends it’s M instead.

 

(Translated by: Witold Wojtaszko)