This was written by my daughter yesterday. Her first poem. Her dear friend was about to undergo abdominal surgery for cancer, and this was written to lighten the mood. As of last night it appears to have been a successful surgery. br br - br br To Josh's spleen, betwixt, between br The liver and the colon, br We here forewarn that Thursday morn' br You'll find that you've been stolen. br br But please, dear spleen, remain serene, br O King of things lymphatic, br Our praise for you and all you do br Has always been emphatic. br br You've done your part, like lungs and heart br To keep our dear Josh healthy. br But soon, anon, you'll be withdrawn br By surgeons, skilled and stealthy. br br We've always seen, departing spleen, br Your obvious potential, but- br The time's at hand to understand br You're simply nonessential. br br Yet be at peace as we release br You from your carnal dwelling. br And contemplate how grand, how great's br The tale you'll soon be telling- br br Of how you firmly dealt with germs br And fought off each infection, br Of how you met with old kismet, br And faced the last resection. br br And so, goodbye, as the surgeons tie br A knot in the final suture, br As we turn our eyes to the gold sunrise br Of a bright, yet spleenless, future.br br Hanque O . . .