The Dictaphone Bard

[And here is a suggestion: Did you ever try dictating your stories or articles to the dictaphone for the first draft? I would be glad to have you come down and make the experiment.--From a shorthand reporter's circular letter.] (As "The Ballad of the Tempest" would have to issue from the dictaphone to the stenographer) We were crowded in the cabin comma Not a soul would dare to sleep dash comma It was midnight on the waters comma And a storm was on the deep period Apostrophe Tis a fearful thing in capital Winter To be shattered by the blast comma And to hear the rattling trumpet Thunder colon quote capital Cut away the mast exclamation point close quote So we shuddered there in silence comma dash For the stoutest held his breath comma While the hungry sea was roaring comma And the breakers talked with capital Death period As thus we sat in darkness comma Each one busy with his prayers comma Quote We are lost exclamation point close quote the captain shouted comma As he staggered down the stairs period But his little daughter whispered comma As she took his icy hand colon Quote Isn't capital God upon the ocean comma Just the same as on the land interrogation point close quote Then we kissed the little maiden comma And we spake in better cheer comma And we anchored safe in harbor When the morn was shining clear period