MISSING
Inside every computer there is a goblin or two,
They move things around and play tricks on you,
They have been sent away by other goblins in shame,
Nor will they be allowed inside any fairy tale domain.

So they take out their spite on computer buffs like us,
They want to make us tear our hair out and make a fuss,
The other day every one of my icons was changed about,
I could almost hear them laughing, having fun no doubt.

The other day my mouse would not move anywhere at all,
I even took him all apart and gave him a good overhaul,
Turned off the computer and then started it up once again,
Then a few icons totally missing, where to is not very plain.

In the middle of a sentence, those goblins cause a freeze,
Nothing you do seems to help, not even saying a nice, please.
But I think I have found a way to keep my goblins happy,
I may have gone round the bend and more than a little daffy.

I found it out by as I worked on the computer the other day,
I had brought up some good cookies to nibble quietly away
As I tried to write a poem and a story going through my head,
Those cookies had vanished before I laid down in my bed.

I had only eaten a couple, but at least eight others had gone,
But those goblins seem to be behaving, have I a battle won?
No more moving icons or things vanishing before my eyes,
I think that it’s chocolate cookies that are their favourite prize.

(Millicent) Ann Margetson 14 June 2004