The Wrong Floor by Oliver Herford — Read

Explore "The Wrong Floor" by Oliver Herford on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.

A certain Emperor / (This is a censored tale) / Once pounded on the door / Of heaven with fist of mail.

Cried Peter from within, / Awakened by the row, / "Stop that infernal din! / Who are you, anyhow?"

"Don't bandy words with me! " / Thundered the visitor. / "All doors to me are free. / I am the Emperor."

"If you're an Emperor," / Said Peter, "then I fear / You've come to the wrong floor. / We take no Emperors here.

"Our waiting list is filled / With martyrs brave and true / Whose blood an Emperor spilled. / There is no room for you."

Cowed by Saint Peter's look, / The Emperor, with a frown, / Cried, "Well, I'm damned! " and took / The elevator -- down.

Reading navigation