On the prospect of a family outing
I don’t mind the Park and I don’t mind the Zoo -
But … I hear I’ve the honour of going with you?
To shudder at serpents and glower at apes
Whilst you treat all in earshot to what you think japes
Or torment small foxes through brandishing grapes?
Young man, you’re an infernal young jackanapes.
(I’ll frankly be hoping the tiger escapes
And munches and worries and haggles and scrapes….)
Or then, in the Park, meant for virtue displayed,
To be dragged alongside as your vices parade,
And pretend not to know you, and feel most betrayed
To be seen in your company, not to evade
Your incessant, cock-a-hoop rodomontade?
A troop of baboons is less crude on a raid.
I don’t mind the Park and I don’t mind the Zoo.
But I’ll be dead, and damned, before I’ll go with you.
But … I hear I’ve the honour of going with you?
To shudder at serpents and glower at apes
Whilst you treat all in earshot to what you think japes
Or torment small foxes through brandishing grapes?
Young man, you’re an infernal young jackanapes.
(I’ll frankly be hoping the tiger escapes
And munches and worries and haggles and scrapes….)
Or then, in the Park, meant for virtue displayed,
To be dragged alongside as your vices parade,
And pretend not to know you, and feel most betrayed
To be seen in your company, not to evade
Your incessant, cock-a-hoop rodomontade?
A troop of baboons is less crude on a raid.
I don’t mind the Park and I don’t mind the Zoo.
But I’ll be dead, and damned, before I’ll go with you.