Ten little students
Applied to grad schools:
One didn't ace his exams
And then there were nine
Nine little students
Their packets prepared:
One's references faltered
And then there were eight
Eight little graduate students
Their studies like forts:
One failed her comps badly
And then there were seven
Seven little graduate students
Sought ideas that inspire:
One found no thesis topic
And then there were six
Six little graduate students
Did their research
One was tempted by big money
And then there were five
Five little graduate students
Went on the job market:
One got zero flyouts
And then there were four
Four little assistant professors
Submitted their papers:
One got only rejections
And then there were three
Three little assistant
Professors went up for tenure:
One was voted down
And then there were two
Two little associate professors
Applied for promotions:
One had no grant funding
And then there was one
One little professor left all alone:
He went and got himself canceled
And then there were none
One little, two little
Three little scholars
Four little, five little
Six little scholars
Seven little, eight little
Nine little scholars
Ten little hopeful scholars
One by one they're gone
Until there was none
Ten little students
Applied to grad schools:
One didn't ace his exams
And then there were nine
Nine little students
Their packets prepared:
One's references faltered
And then there were eight
Eight little graduate students
Their studies like forts:
One failed her comps badly
And then there were seven
Seven little graduate students
Sought ideas that inspire:
One found no thesis topic
And then there were six
Six little graduate students
Did their research
One was tempted by big money
And then there were five
Five little graduate students
Went on the job market:
One got zero flyouts
And then there were four
Four little assistant professors
Submitted their papers:
One got only rejections
And then there were three
Three little assistant
Professors went up for tenure:
One was voted down
And then there were two
Two little associate professors
Applied for promotions:
One had no grant funding
And then there was one
One little professor left all alone:
He went and got himself canceled
And then there were none
One little, two little
Three little scholars
Four little, five little
Six little scholars
Seven little, eight little
Nine little scholars
Ten little hopeful scholars
One by one they're gone
Until there was none