Page 177 - TRWW Book One

The Red Well-Read Reader

Story 313
The Bum

In the city’s slum in an alley behind a gymnasium,

there lives a bothersome bum. He begs for money,

for say a plum, but usually buys Bacardi rum. And he

finds his food in a trash drum.

Once when offered a job selling geraniums and mums, he outright refused, citing

tedium and a small pay sum.

Now he has no one with whom to chum, and he looks glum, for his life has become
so grum and pathetically humdrum.
Story 314

Are You Dumb?

You are dumb if you don’t know

the difference between go and come.

You are dumb if you don’t know

the difference between all and some.

You are dumb if you don’t know

your pinky from your thumb

You are dumb if you don’t know

a slice from a crumb

You are dumb if you don’t know

cockeyed from plumb

You are dumb if you don’t know

candy from gum

And you are dumb if you don’t know
sensitive from numb.

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