We are gathered here today
To put a dear friend away
In that circular coffin it shall lie
Until Wednesday when the trash man may take it away

O the unwritten words that die with this cherished tool!
To those who swear by Microsoft Word:
You are all fools!

What other device would give its very blood so selflessly?
At the flick of a wrist, all too willing
Doodles, essays
No matter how drilling!
We should all be ashamed for the ink we have misused
Crossing out sentences we have abused
Idly sketching hearts or flowers to keep ourselves amused
Surely the legacy of this great device is not to be confused

Every one of you can surely remember
Sleep~deprived nights with homework, ready to surrender
But who never left you, even when the pet parakeet had gone to bed?
That ever present ball point pen, ink flowing red

For your death my history notes are to blame
Now we can only hope your brothers in the value pack can live up to your name.