"Oh!" Said Diana.

'Oh! ' Said Diana 'how frightening
That the bee should have such a sting'
'Not really said one buzzing by her
They're handy for many a thing
For opening tins or picking a lock
For taking out splinters or darning a sock
For picking up pickles or hemming a frock'
'For stinging? ' Said Di and the bee was in shock
'Good God! What a horrible thought! '

"Oh!" Said Diana "how frightening
That the leopard should have such big teeth"
"Not really" Said one from the birch tree
To Diana who stood underneath
"They can take out the dust from a billy goats eye
Or teach a young baby ostrich how to fly
Or a graceful gazelle how not to be shy"
"And eat them all up in the process?" Said Di
Said the leopard "well, only when caught! "

"Oh!" Said Diana 'how frightening
That the snake should have such a skin'
"Not really" Said one from the bushes
"It's handy for putting things in
Like your mother's make up and lipstick you see?
A purse and a hanky not forgetting the key
And a couple of photographs of the family
But when they're all in there there's no room for me!
Now that isn't being a sport"

"Oh!" Said Diana "how frightening
That the lion should have such big claws"
"Not really Said one in reclining
"With respect to the size of my paws
I find them most handy for picking my teeth
To get at the remnants of dinner beneath
We've just had a picnic out there on the heath
A pleasant young fellow named Keith
But a little too stringy and short"

"Oh!" Said Diana "how frightening
That the elephant has such big feet"
"Not really" Said one big old tusker
"I find them both nimble and fleet
Examples, a few, for stopping a sneeze
For racing a rabbit, for tripping up fleas
For dancing the tango or running up tree's
"Come down here at once!" Said Di "if you please
That's Mothers new willow she bought"

"Oh!" Said Diana 'how frightening
That I have such terrible thoughts"
"Not really" say I in a whisper
"the world is made up of all sorts
Like those who find fault in another s deformity
Even though nature intended in sort of a
way to protect or defend from atrocity
The creature concerned, but forever it seems to be
People will always find fault!"

Reviews

[Chris Shaw]

A clever rhyming scheme here Bryan. Your stanzas flow smoothly and the repetition works well. This was a fun read and yet there was a clear message as well. Nicely penned.

Chris

[Bryan Sefton]

Thank you Chris, very grateful.