by Michael Coiner

Salubrious Sammy was a very clean fellow,

So rightly clean it kept mommy mellow,

"Sammy my dear!" she’d say with such glee,

"You’ve remembered to make your bed, I see!"

Yes, Sammy was just as neat as a pin,

But that neatness began to quite annoy him,

He longed to dump his toys on the floor.

He longed to not make his bed anymore.

He longed to squish in the mud with his cat...

...and other such naughty naughty mess things like that.

But doing those things he wouldn’t dream!

For perhaps it might make his mother scream!

His father would look in his room and fall flat!

Then Sammy thought to himself: "Who cares about that?"

"If I want to make a mess, I should.

What difference does it make to the damn neighborhood?

As long as I clean it up later, who cares?

This is MY bedroom at the top of the stairs!"

Sooner or later the room was obscene!

Sammy’s mom said "Get that room clean!"

"I understand how you think cleaning is tedium,

But for the love of God Sammy, find a happy medium!"

"I suppose I could" Sammy said sullen-hearted.

Soon he and his mess had completely parted.

Mommy said "I don’t expect perfectly neat,

just leave a little room on the floor for your feet!"

"Your father and I will love you, no matter!"

"Just don’t eat so much Sam, we’ve noticed you’re fatter."