"…. one of my
ancestors was found drowned
in the ink well
out of which poor
eddie poe wrote the
raven….”
from : a roach of the taverns, archy & mehitabel, by Don Marquis

the cockroach times december 1845

new evidence in inkwell case is found
the victim had been stabbed before he drowned

poe s wastebin taken into evidence
has yielded crumpled paper marked with ink
in which are wing bits giving confidence
that murder will be proved we re on the brink

They’re on the brink, Lenore, or so they say
but cannot prove intent. It was an accident.
What man would think a cockroach chose to play
inside his inkwell? Stabbed! As though I meant
to stab the beast. I’ve promised Cockroach Court
to see such doesn’t happen anymore.
The raven was my witness, with this vow:
Your Honour, quoth the Raven, “Nevermore.”