[And here is a suggestion: Did you ever try dictating your stories or articles to the dictaphone for the first draft? I would be glad to have you come down and make the experiment.--From a shorthand reporter's circular letter.] <br />(As "The Ballad of the Tempest" would have to issue from the dictaphone to the stenographer) <br /> <br /> <br />We were crowded in the cabin comma <br />Not a soul would dare to sleep dash comma <br />It was midnight on the waters comma <br />And a storm was on the deep period <br /> <br />Apostrophe Tis a fearful thing in capital Winter <br />To be shattered by the blast comma <br />And to hear the rattling trumpet <br />Thunder colon quote capital Cut away the mast exclamation point close quote <br /> <br />So we shuddered there in silence comma dash <br />For the stoutest held his breath comma <br />While the hungry sea was roaring comma <br />And the breakers talked with capital Death period <br /> <br />As thus we sat in darkness comma <br />Each one busy with his prayers comma <br />Quote We are lost exclamation point close quote the captain shouted comma <br />As he staggered down the stairs period <br /> <br />But his little daughter whispered comma <br />As she took his icy hand colon <br />Quote Isn't capital God upon the ocean comma <br />Just the same as on the land interrogation point close quote <br /> <br />Then we kissed the little maiden comma <br />And we spake in better cheer comma <br />And we anchored safe in harbor <br />When the morn was shining clear period<br /><br />Franklin P. Adams<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-dictaphone-bard/
