Rockin' the Baby's Coffin and Other Rhymes: A Child's Book of Crime, Horror, and Death

The title says it all, except that it's not really intended for children, and is (if it's not obvious from the title alone) funny-if you're not too easily offended.

This is a collection of rhymes that are reminiscent of the "Little Willie" poems of Harry Graham, Shock-Headed Peter by Dr. Heinrich Hoffman, and with a dash of Edward Gorey and Lewis Carroll. Illustrations by Eddie Wilson are appropriately disturbing and sometimes poignant.

The Frosty Morn

The frosty morn that I was born

My mother passed away

When I was one dad took a gun

And down with mom he lay

I was just two when sister Sue

Was drowned in Millers Lake

At three, I guess, my brother Wes

Drank poison by mistake

That woeful year mad dogs, I fear

Bit maiden Aunt Lenore

In awful pain and quite insane

She died when I turned four

Now that I'm five, those who survive

Live life in mortal fear

For they all know one more will go

Before I'm six next year