Tales for the Dogmatical Nursemaid
The unicorn, though custom deems it myth,
Was formerly familiar as the ox
Which only serves to show that fable's pith
Was truly no more cunning than a fox
The ostrich now, though rumour deems it mad
Was heretofore as sapient as a fly
Which demonsrates that when good blood turns bad
The hourglass turns sandblind, by and by.
The minotaur, though legend deems it male
Has suckled all my kin these eighty years
Which surely proves a daily jug of ale
Is not enough to Pasiphae our fears
The deadly snipe, though science deems it mute
And wholly deaf, recites in ringing tones
To those sufficiently astute
To reckon up its groans
The ermine stoat, though history deems it wrong
Is, patently enough, as right as rain
Which goes to show that Kings Canute and Kong
Could not turn back the water on the brain
These animals, renowned in verse and prose
May serve as fine examples of our art
And if they happen to be lies, it shows
How one bad apple can upset the cart
| Contributors: | TG, Roland, P. |
| Poem finished: | 11th January 1999. |