"A is for Abe and his unfunded pension" The Gashlycrumb Seniors: A Short Sojourn At Archaedian Acres Retirement Village with a Nod to Edward Gorey

(B/w line illustrations prompted by those appearing in Gorey's "Gashlycrumb Tinies" are on the drawing board: a work in progress.) 

A is for Abe and his unfunded pension.
B is for Babs with severe hypertension.

C is for Carl, largely vegetative.
D is for Dotty. Her mem’ry? A sieve.

E is for Esther awaiting a heart.
F is for Fred of the flatulent fart.

G is for Gordon who suffers from gout.
H is for Helga. Her hair’s falling out.

I is for Ida. That itching’s come back.
J is for Johnny. His stools have turn'd black.

K is for Kurt with three holes in his colon.
L is for Lu. Her identity? Stolen.

M is for Maud with a face like a prune.
N is for Nick. Turned 100 in June.

O is for Oscar. The man is obese.
P is for Pearl. (Best to leave Pearl in peace.)

Q is for Queenie who has to be fed.
R is for Ralph: "Am I better off dead?"

S is for Sylvie. Can’t hear worth a damn.
T is for Tim. Suffers flashbacks from Nam.

U’s for Umberto. As yet there's no cure.
V is for Vince: old…but still immature.

W’s Wilfred whose hemorrhoids swell.
X is for Xan: Senor Singular Smell.

Y’s for Yolanda who'll pass come the Fall.
Z is for ZaSu. She’ll outlive us all.