Twelve Drummers Drum

Twelve eggs to a dozen; twelve months in a year.

Twelve men on a jury; twelve minds filled with fear.

Twelve cards of a picture for Belch ‘n his fool

for betting and drinking as Lord of Misrule.

Maria and Fabian and Andrew combined

join hands in good cheer as Malvolio’s maligned.

As poised and composed as apostles of twelve,

Malvolio’s style is as pompous as hell!

Twelve knights round a table, they plot his demise.

A twelve-step program would have lessened their highs.

The pendulum swings but the time passes slow.

They play the poor steward – a bad puppet show.

Twelve hours have passed on the grandfather clock;

Malvolio sits in the dark with no lock.

Twelve ribs in his body respond to their spell –

Sir Toby and Feste condemn him to hell,

Orsino sees Viola; his love in disguise,

Cesario, Sebastian in Olivia’s eyes.

Twelve pence in a shilling; a good rule of thumb.

Twelve nights after Christmas; as twelve drummers drum.