Computerwocky*

by Shannon Brunjes

     'Twas digital, and the binary bits
       Did gyre and gimble in the core:
     All mimsy were the registers,
       And the main-frame outbore.

     "Beware the Computerwock, my son!
       The bugs in bytes, the cards that patch!
     Beware the GI-GO bird, and shun
       The frumious Bandersnatch!"

     He took his on-line pen in hand:
       Long time the mini-max he sought-
     So rested he by the logic tree,
       And programmed it in thought.

     And, as in uffish thought he stood,
       The Computerwock, with console lights,
     Came whiffling through the I/O queue,
       And burbled bits to bytes!

     One, two!  One, two!  And through and through
       The input pen went snicker-snack!
     He left it dead, its dump unread,
       And went gallumphing back.

     "And hast thou slain the Computerwock?
       Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
     O frabjous day!  I/O!  Overlay!"
       He chortled in his joy.

     'Twas digital, and the binary bits
       Did gyre and gimble in the core:
     All mimsy were the registers,
       And the main-frame outbore.

* The light-pen is mightier than the vorpal sword!