John M. Church

I was attorney for the "Q"

And the Indemnity Company which insured

The owners of the mine.

I pulled the wires with judge and jury,

And the upper courts, to beat the claims

Of the crippled, the widow and orphan,

And made a fortune thereat.

The bar association sang my praises

In a high-flown resolution.

And the floral tributes were many—

But the rats devoured my heart

And a snake made a nest in my skull!

Edgar Lee Masters