Verse

With hand abob, the old AMANUENSIS copies all he hears.
He seems well-suited to his job, not having had ideas in years.

The BOMBADIER unleashes fiery nightmares on the towns below;
It brings him not a tear, so long as those he kills he doesn't know.

CENTUPLET number fifty-nine has spent his childhood playing games.
The one that takes the longest time is recalling his brothers' names.

In his most scientific way, the DRUGGIST concocts cures from flowers;
He sells to adults through the day, and then to schoolboys after hours.

The ENGINEER surveys his bridge, and filled with pride, he laughs and weeps.
The walking right up to its edge, he looks around, and sighs, and leaps.

The hard-working FACTOTUM gives his life entirely to his boss.
He has no children, friends or wife, but feels it isn't any loss.

The GIANT can't fit in his bed, and when he stands, he bumps his head.
His feet are cold, his scalp is red. He often wishes he were dead.

As he prepares the corpse to carve, compassion grips the HOMOVORE:
"I have so much while others starve; should I be giving to the poor?"

The INFANT, kidnapped just as planned, will never see the home he loves.
His skin will be removed, and tanned, and made into expensive gloves.

The JESTER plays his comic role for many a count a duke and squire
Who'd no doubt find it far more drole to set the jingling fool afire.

The blight and famine reach new highs affects not the KAKASTOCRAT,
Who cannot fully sympathize, nor even move, he's grown so fat.

Meditating on his life, the LEPER dreams of girls he's kissed,
And if he could but grip a knife, he'd surely try to slit his wrist.

Without a trace of joy or pride, the calm MESSIAH guides his sheep,
For though the flock he tends is wide, he knows they aren't very deep.

The NANNY, sick of her young master, harshly slays the tiresome brat.
She then confesses to her pastor, is absolved, and that, is that.

Though they are weak and almost fossil, to garner wisdom from the OLD,
We lock them up to keep them docile, and make them do as they are told.

The PARESSEUSE has as best friend her faithful color TV set.
She's well aware her sloth must end, but glad it hasn't done so yet.

The QUARRY, in his desperate flight, adorns himself with red balloons.
He clearly isn't very bright, and will be stuffed and mounted soon.

High up in his mountain den, the RECLUSE hears unearthly voices.
He thinks, "I have so many friends," and thus accompanied, rejoices.

The SISSY, althoughsure he's right, dares not confront the brutish hulk,
But still is forced into a fight, and beaten to an oozing pulp.

His whole life spent insiide a jar, the THEORIST makes elaborate schemes,
Which, though not based on how things are, work well with how he thinks they seem.

For sake of childhood yuletide joy, the USERER lends healthy sums
To parents who, to buy them toys, will lose their shirts, or else their thumbs.

The VEGETABLE, like a spud, has not a thought to call his own.
But owing to his rare-typed blood, his body's end has been postponed.

His voice sincere and visage too, the WITNESS tells a sordid tale,
Which, although not completely true, will land his lover's spouse in jail.

Unless the sky is thick with rain, the XEROPHOBE soaks in a pool
Which, built without a tap or drain, he fills with urine, sweat and drool.

In loyal service to his lord, the YEOMAN handles certain tasks
About which he could scarce afford to suffer certain questions asked.

The ZEALOT kills without compunction the disbelievers in his lord.
Murder is his holy function and is itself its own reward.