Who are Archy and Mehitabel?

Archy, a typewriting cockroach, and his best friend Mehitabel the cat, were the creations of poet/columnist Don Marquis who, in 1916, introduced them in New York City's The Evening Sun, and went on to compile their adventures in three books. Beginning in 1927 with "archy and mehitabel" (not capitalized because Archy could not simultaneously hit the shift key and the needed letter), others followed in 1933 and 1935. They are still in print today, and their stories encompass themes ranging from philosophy to political and social satire.

“i have had my ups and downs

but wotthehell wotthehell

yesterday sceptres and crowns

fried oysters and velvet gowns

and today i herd with bums

but wotthehell wotthehell

i wake the world from sleep

as i caper and sing and leap

when i sing my wild free tune

wotthehell wotthehell

under the blear eyed moon

i am pelted with cast off shoon

but wotthehell wotthehell”

― Don Marquis, The Annotated Archy and Mehitabel