Poetry Archives

The parents of the learned child
  (His father and his mother)
Were utterly aghast to note
The facts he would at random quote
On creatures curious, rare, and wild;
  And wondering, ask each other:
“An idle little child like this,
  How is it that he knows
What years of close analysis
  Are powerless to disclose?
Our brains are trained, our books are big,
  And yet we always fail
To answer why the Guinea-pig
  Is born without a tail.
Or why the Wanderoo should rant
  In wild, unmeaning rhymes,
Whereas the Indian Elephant
  Will only read The Times.
Perhaps he found a way to slip
  Unnoticed to the Zoo,
And gave the Pachyderm a tip,
  Or pumped the Wanderoo.
Or even by an artful plan
  Deceived our watchful eyes,
And interviewed the Pelican,
  Who is extremely wise.”
“Oh! no,” said he, in humble tone,
  With shy but conscious look,
“Such facts I never could have known
  But for this little book.”