The Manual Typewriter

Back in the day I took typing as a teen,

A class full of girls was the place to be seen.

A sheet of paper between the rollers and you’re ready to go,

Tap tap tap, ding, zip return, don’t you know.

Center your paper and set both the margins,

Tab to indent, then the typing begins.

Line after line and the paragraphs grow,

Tap tap tap, ding, zip return, don’t you know.

Making a mistake is a job in itself,

Go get the white out, it’s there on the shelf.

Use just a dab, then to dry you must blow,

Tap tap tap, ding, zip return, don’t you know.

The manual typewriter was “the” tool so they say,

Producing the scripts and the poems of the day.

Today it is thought of as clunky and slow,

Tap tap tap, ding, zip return, don’t you know.  

--Ken Ferguson--