Frightday The 13th

Oh, dear, it's here, it's back again! Unlucky souls to claim! When accidents strike now and then, This awful day's to blame... When scamps and imps set up their traps For mortals on the go And laugh when seeing folks collapse Or bathtubs overflow... The gremlins love this day, of course, They think it's such a hoot! It's when they all come out in force With pranks they think will suit... It's open season on Mankind! Alas, no mercy shown... And woe to you if you should find You're walking home... alone! Grown-ups are seen as pompous fools, Stuck-up in many ways, With gadgets that work miracles They advertise with praise... But gremlins use these gadgets, too, And know their little quirks, So they know how to upset you When something hardly works... Computers can be set to fail, The software soon goes wrong, Each soldered wire looks so frail, That weak link's not that strong... That battery goes on the blink, That TV just won't start, That pen's so slowly leaking ink, No wonder folks lose heart... That's why I'm staying home today, You won't catch me outside, No sabotage will come my way If I stay here and hide... My sandwiches will do just fine, I'll read my magazines, To rest in bed and drink my wine Till I reach the 14th! Denis Martindale, copyright March 2015.