I stood upon the coping of the tallest building known.
And tried to walk that dangerous ledge, barefooted and alone. 
I started very bravely, then I turned to look behind,
And saw a demon coming of the most ferocious kind. 
He bade me, "Get a move on!", and I started in to run, 
But I slipped and lost my balance, and I knew that I was done!

I had a wild encounter with a mad and awful beast.
His eyes were bulged with malice, for he'd picked me for a feast.
I tried to scream, but couldn't, then he growled a fearsome note 
And gave one spring towards me and his  fangs sank in my throat! 
One gulp and it was over!  It was much too black to see. 
But I knew beyond all question that the end had come for me!

I tumbled from an aeroplane and looped and looped around. 
And was twenty seven minutes on my journey to the ground. 
I bumped a dozen steeples on my perilous descent
And left as many flag staffs either snapped in two or bent.
But when I woke in terror, I discovered with a sigh,
How much real excitement lurks, in Mother's Hot Mince Pie!

EDGAR GUEST