Jerseywocky

by Paul Kieffer
(with a minor alteration to suit my insidious purposes ... heh heh heh --Al)


'Twas Bergen and the Erie road
Did Mahwah into Paterson;
All Jersey were the Ocean Groves
And the Red Bank Bayonne.


``Beware the Hopatcong, my son!
The teeth that bite! The nails that claw!
Beware the Bound Brook bird, and shun
The Kearney Communipaw!''


He took his Belmar blade in hand,
Long time the Folsom foe he sought,
Till rested he by a Bayway tree
And stood awhile in thought.


And as in Nutley thought he stood,
The Hopatcong, with eyes of flame,
Came Whippany through the Englewood
And Garfield as it came.


One two! one two! and through and through
The Belmar blade went Hackensack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went Weehawken back.


``And hast though slain the Hopatcong?
Come to my arms, my Perth Amboy!
Hoboken day! Soho! Rahway!''
He Caldwell in his joy.


'Twas Bergen and the Erie road
Did Mahwah into Paterson;
All Jersey were the Ocean Groves
And the Red Bank Bayonne.