A Rare Bit By L. Frank Baum Poem by Sidi Mahtrow

(from the book, by the Candelabra's Glare by Baum)

(Writ dejectedly at early dawn.)

The rarebit is an elfish imp
That wields a deadly power,
Though frequently nonchalantly
The demon we devour.

I think I’ve figured out the way
This weird dish is created,
And if you’d try the recipe
Below ‘t is plainly stated:

You take a drove of nightmares,
Of headache quite a lot,
A cord of hard dyspepsia
And of mulligrubs a jot.

And roll and mash and bake ‘em
‘Til browned to fit the code,
Then feed it to your dearest friends
As “rarebit, a la mode”!

‘T would be palpably fictitious
Though suffering from its sting,
Should I say it’s not delicious –
Unfit to feast a king.

I can only pray devoutly,
(In addition to my litany.)
From rarebit Lord deliver me,
So I never more will get any!

“My best friends have never called me a poet, and I have been forced to admire their restraint. Nevertheless, this little book has an excuse. Unaided, I have set the types and turned the press and accomplished the binding. Such as it is, the book is “my very own”.

Another peculiar thing about the volume, which, I believe, renders it unique, the fact that there has not been a penny of expense attending the production. For my good friends, when they found I was going to make a book, insisted upon furnishing all the pictures and material, and I generously allowed them to do so. I have done the work evenings, when my business cares were over. It has
been my recreation “ lfb

(The 99 books printed were for gifts to friends. The above poem comes from a copy that was offered for sale on Ebay. Buyer and seller are unknown.)
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