Lost Letter
I’ve lost the “a” from “apple.”
I don’t know what I’m gonna do.
“P-P-L-E” is worthless, you see.
Now, where’s that “a” got itself to?
It’s not like losing “s” from “slow;”
That certainly, always, forever spells “low.”
“B” out of “bring” still leaves a “ring,”
But “P-P-L-E” doesn’t mean anything!
It’s not like “s” and “p” out of “sprung;”
That still leaves a ladder on which there’s a “rung.”
It’s not even like “scrawl” minus “s” becomes “crawl.”
No, “P-P-L-E” spells nothing at all.
I’ve lost the “a” from “apple,”
And I’m totally out in the dark,
But I don’t much mind it
‘Cause if I can’t find it,
I’ll borrow an “a” from “aardvark.”
Marsha Bilderback, 1988
Marsha's Brilliance 