Mark A. Mandel, © 2002
ttto Home on the Range
Dedicated to Loiosh
(Backtick [`] precedes the first strong beat of a line
where it could be confusing.)
Those who have met me at cons or filksings have seen my familiar, Loiosh.
(Pictures from
Smofcon in Boston (year?) and
Consonance 2003.)
This is not the first time he's been in my songs; see verse 3 of
Con From Argo.
One night in my home
While perusing a tome
I heard my familiar's voice say:
"Better get to your bed
And `lay down your head
For the morning is not far away."CHORUS (after every verse):
Late, late in the night,
In the quiet and peace of my home
How strange to have heard
An admonishing word
From a creature of fabric and foam.I ignored that small voice,
Barely making a choice
And addicted to narrative prose.
Many hours had gone
By the time that the dawn
Saw my eyelids unwillingly close.
As I staggered to work
Well, I `felt like a jerk,
For my toy was far wiser than I.
"How'd you `do that?" I asked.
He replied, "It's my task
Not to let your organic brain fry."
He will often advise
When my plans are unwise,
My attention distracted or wrong.
But he's uttered no word
In the hour-and-a-third
During which I have written this song.
last modified 2003-04-07
