I know nothing about poetry, but this I really liked this when I read it as a kid. I think it has the most memorable first verse of any poem I’ve read:
Colonel Fazackerley Butterworth-Toast
Bought an old castle complete with a ghost,
But someone or other forgot to declare
To Colonel Fazack that the spectre was there.
On the very first evening, while waiting to dine,
The Colonel was taking a fine sherry wine,
When the ghost, with a furious flash and a flare,
Shot out of the chimney and shivered, “Beware!”
Colonel Fazackerley put down his glass
And said, “My dear fellow, that’s really first class!
I just can’t conceive how you do it at all.
I imagine you’re going to a Fancy Dress Ball?”
At this, the dread ghost gave a withering cry.
Said the Colonel (his monocle firm in his eye),
“Now just how you do it I wish I could think.
Do sit down and tell me, and please have a drink.”
The ghost in his phosphorous cloak gave a roar
And floated about between ceiling and floor.
He walked through a wall and returned through a pane
And backed up the chimney and came down again.
Said the Colonel, “With laughter I’m feeling quite weak!”
(As trickles of merriment ran down his cheek.)
“My house-warming party I hope you won’t spurn.
You must say you’ll come and you’ll give us a turn!”
At this, the poor spectre – quite out of his wits –
Proceeded to shake himself almost to bits
He rattled his chains and he clattered his bones
And he filled the whole castle with mumbles and moans.
But Colonel Fazackerley, just as before,
Was simply delighted and called out, “Encore!”
At which the ghost vanished, his efforts in vain
And never was seen at the castle again.
“Oh dear, what a pity!” said Colonel Fazack.
“I don’t know his name, so can’t call him back.”
And then with a smile that was hard to define,
Colonel Fazackerley went in to dine.
Apparently it can be found in The Puffin Book of 20th Century Children’s Verse
