Tuesday, December 28, 2010

The Computer swallowed Grandma

The great god Google attributes this poem to Eileen Lowry, which is incorrect, the author is Valerie Waite. who said in her post below "I would like to clarify that I wrote and illustrated this poem in 2004 and it was published in the English National newspaper, the Daily Mail, on July 2nd 2004 with due accreditation to me. (I have written several for the newspaper). My poem was subsequently set to music by Eileen Lowry, who is a member of the Yamaha club of Gt. Britain and, (with our joint permission) became a free e.card on happydaycards.com ."

The computer swallowed grandma.
Yes, honestly its true!
She pressed 'control' and 'enter'
And disappeared from view.

It devoured her completely,
The thought just makes me squirm.
She must have caught a virus
Or been eaten by a worm.

I've searched through the recycle bin
And files of every kind;
I've even used the Internet,
But nothing did I find.

In desperation, I asked Google
My searches to refine.
The reply from him was negative,
Not a thing was found 'online.'

So, if inside your 'In-box,'
My Grand ma you should see,
scan, copy and paste her
IN AN E.MAIL BACK TO ME


5 comments:

  1. THE COMPUTER’S SWALLOWED GRANDMA ©Valerie Waite. July 2004
    I would like to clarify that I wrote and illustrated this poem in 2004 and it was published in the English National newspaper,the Daily Mail,on July 2nd 2004 with due acreditation to me.. (I have written several for the newspaper).
    My poem was subsequently set to music by Eileen Lowry, who is a member of the Yamaha club of Gt. Britain and,(with our joint permission) became a free e.card on happydaycards.com. Scroll down to ‘Songs’ (sing along.)
    Since its publication, it has appeared on thousands of websites all over the world - sometimes as 'anon;' sometimes with just 'newspaper' or sometimes 'author unknown'. I have no objection to the poem being used because it seems to be enjoyed by so many people, but it is one of my poems published in one of two booklets sold to raise money for The Sight Saver Appeal at the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary, London Road, Derby. It is now featured (with my permission) in the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art syllabus for Verse and Prose competitions. I thought you might like some definite clarification.
    Mrs Valerie Waite.

    ReplyDelete
  2. The last line is, in fact, incorrect and should read 'Please scan, copy and paste her IN AN E.MAIL BACK TO ME.

    V.W (I am a 77 year old Grandma, by the way!)

    ReplyDelete
  3. I saw this poem on the internet for my grade 7 daughter studying in Dubai . She has to study it for her exam and the teacher has given questions on the poem.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wow, wonderful blog layout! How long have you been blogging for?
    you make blogging look easy. The overall look of your web site
    is wonderful, let alone the content!

    ReplyDelete