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404 ala Poe : Giggle Poetry

written by Poet : louis_in_nc


Once upon some free time clearly, while I net surfed weak and weary

Going through my favorite websites and the pages I adore

As I typed out every address, surfing past the mottled net mess

There came a blank page on my screen which I had never seen before

On my screen there was a web page with words I'd never seen before

It had three numbers "404"

Ah, distinctly I remember, waiting for the page to render

And each separate graphics splendor to appear upon the screen once more

Eagerly I awaited the download of the full HTML code

And have my browser be bestowed another page which would not bore

Waiting for my favorite pages filled with content which would not bore

Yet all it said was "404"

Each successive futile refresh strained my patience to its full test

Causing me to utter cuss words I have hardly ever used before

So that I had started yelling, because of anger which was welling

Tis some error with my system keeping me from surfing more

Some DNS or IP error keeping me from surfing more

And on the page was "404"

Presently my angst grew stronger; errors on the page grew longer

"Webmaster" said I, "or System Admin a resolution I implore"

But the fact is I was surfing when those numbers came unnerving

All I wanted was my favorite pages on my screen once more

Just to see my favorite web page showing on my screen once more

Yet still the page read "404"

Deep upon the blank page peering, long I sat there wondering, fearing

Doubting, thinking thoughts no geek had ever had to think before

But the white page was unbroken, and the I-net gave no token

Never had my system spoken of this surfing fault before

"This" I exclaimed "can't be happening for it's never happened here before"

Yet on the page showed "404"

To tech support I was left turning, all my soul within me burning

Soon I heard a voice recording telling me to hold some more

"Surely" thought I "this is but madness" growing was my techno sadness

Let me see then, what thereat is, and this error I'll explore

Let my rage be still a moment and this error I'll explore

What has made the page display the horrid number "404"

Open here I flung the case side, peering the electronics inside

Focusing upon the Ethernet connection on the board

Not an indication made it, not one error in baud or in bit

Flashing from the data carried through it to my systems core

Showing that it had a link to pass the data to my systems core

Yet still the page said "404"

On the phone the music playing had every nerve within me praying

Someone there would soon be saying "Hello this is tech support"

But to my dismal outlook's chagrin, the same old song had started again

Causing me to cuss and scream even louder than I had before

Cussing loudly to the phone more fervently than I had before

Quoth the Server "404"

Much I marveled this ungainly system which displayed so plainly

A barren page which made me wish it would display just something more

And I couldn't help but seeing the data packets which were fleeting

Flowing from the internet to wind up at my browsers door

Packets flowing from the net which showed up blank and nothing more

What was this error "404"

But the browser sitting lonely, on a blank page said this only

These three numbers, as if its process in that number it did outpour

Nothing further would it display, to my utter growing dismay

Till I scarcely could remember it displaying something more

Would it ever show me something other than this any more

Quoth the Server "404"

Sitting at the website broken, not a graphic was there open

"Doubtless," said I, "what it displays is its only stock and store "

Forgotten by some dense webmaster another mangled web disaster

Refresh fast and ever faster, give me my page I adjure

Stern despair returned, instead of the page I did adjure

This sad page read "404"

But this sad site so beguiling, lead my sad soul into smiling

Straight I wheeled my chair much closer to the desk than it had been before

Then upon the keyboard typing, clear my brow from sweat by wiping

Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this number did implore

What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt and ominous number did implore

By displaying the digits "404"

This I sat engaged in guessing, with no webpage yet expressing

To the browser still bereft of anything but white décor

This and more I sat divining while my hard drives still were whining

On the flat screen still was shining the pale white page there had been before

On the screen there still was shining the same blank page I'd seen before

Screaming at me "404"

Then, I thought, the page did flicker making my contempt grow quicker

Looking at the refresh button, begging it would be the cure

"Wretch," I cried, my patience left me, witness to the page I did see

Respite- Respite and nepenthe, from my memories of the web I do adore

Let me quaff this kind nepenthe and forget these pages I adore

Quoth the Server "404"

"Webmaster!" said I, "thing of evil!- admin still if man or devil!

Whether Tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed you here upon my browsers door

Desolate it sits undaunted, on this blank screen, bleak, unwanted

By its pallid light I'm haunted, show my page I do implore

Will my page resolve again, tell me this I do implore

Quoth the Server "404"

"Webmaster!" said I, "thing of evil!- admin still if man or devil!

By the fiber that transports us to the net we all adore

Tell this soul with sorrow heavy, must I pay another levy

Just to see my favorite bevy which I've seen so much before

To see the rare and radiant bevy of the likes I've seen before

Quoth the Server "404"

"Be that number our sign of parting, Web or net!" I shrieked, upstarting-

"Get thee back into the network and back into my systems core"

Leave no blank page as a token, of this number you have spoken

Leave my surfing ways unbroken, quit this error evermore

Take this lacuna from my sight, and take this error evermore

Quoth the Server "404"

And the webpage, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting

On a bleak and empty site devoid of content evermore

And the page has all the seeming of a desert that is dreaming

And the glow from the flat panel throws its white light to the floor

And my soul from out that white light flickers fast upon the floor

With a page whose only graphic is the number "404"

Originally Posted On Site: 2007-09-09 14:31:54
Last Login: 07.09.10


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