Ode to the Typographical Error

The typographical error
is a slippery thing and sly;
You can hunt till you are dizzy,
but it somehow will get by.
Till the forms are on the press,
it is strange how still it keeps.
It shrinks down in a corner,
and it never stirs or peeps---
That typographical error,
too small for human eyes---
Till the ink is on the paper,
when it grows to mountain size.
The boss, he stares with horror,
then he grabs his hair and groans;
The copyreader drops his head
upon his hands and moans.
The remainder of the issue
may be clean as clean can be,
But the typographical error
is the only thing you'll see.

----Anonymous