'Twas the Night Before Crisis

[Michael Werneke]

Found this in my Inbox from another list...please excuse if it's old
hat.  It's new to me.


'Twas the night before crisis, and all through the house,
Not a program was working, not even a browse.
Programmers were wrung out, too mindless to care,
Knowing chances of cutover hadn't a prayer.

The users were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of inquiries danced in their heads.
When out in the lobby there arose such a clatter,
That I sprang from my cube to see what was the matter.

And what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a Super Programmer, oblivious to fear.
More rapid than eagles, his programs they came
And he whistled and shouted and called them by name.

On Update!  On Add!  On Inquiry!  On Delete!
On Batch Jobs!  On Closing!  On Functions Complete!
His eyes were glazed over, his fingers were lean,