Brilliance in writing

There is brilliance in writing and brilliance in its delivery. This is an example of both, though I will leave it to you to determine who wrote it and who delivered it, and in what context. One of my favorites...but maybe because of its context.

THERE'S NO EARTHLY WAY OF KNOWING,
WHICH DIRECTION WE ARE GOING,
THERE'S NO KNOWING,
WHERE WE'RE ROWING,
OR WHICH WAY THE RIVER'S FLOWING.
IS IT RAINING?
IS IT SNOWING?
IS A HURRICANE A-BLOWING?
BLEH! 

NOT A SPECK OF LIGHT IS SHOWING,

SO THE DANGER MUST BE GROWING. 

ARE THE FIRES OF HELL A GLOWING? 

IS THE GRISLY REAPER MOWING?
YES!
THE DANGER MUST BE GROWING,
FOR THE ROWERS KEEP ON ROWING, 

AND THEY'RE CERTAINLY NOT SHOWING
ANY SIGNS THAT THEY ARE SLOWING!