"Alas! Alas! the Bandicoot!
His head's more piggy than his foot.
His relatives include a bear,
A wolf, a mole with golden hair,
An anteater, a wombat too,
A possom and a kangaroo.
And yet with such a lot to choose from
His choice is absolutely gruesome.
He says, 'I'll grow me rabbit's ears
And that will shame aunt wolf to tears.
I'll wear a long nose like a shrew
Disgracing cousin kangaroo.
And to annoy my uncle bear
I'll have a rat tail with no hair.
They'll call me The Australian Brute!'
Alas! Alas! The Bandicoot!"
His head's more piggy than his foot.
His relatives include a bear,
A wolf, a mole with golden hair,
An anteater, a wombat too,
A possom and a kangaroo.
And yet with such a lot to choose from
His choice is absolutely gruesome.
He says, 'I'll grow me rabbit's ears
And that will shame aunt wolf to tears.
I'll wear a long nose like a shrew
Disgracing cousin kangaroo.
And to annoy my uncle bear
I'll have a rat tail with no hair.
They'll call me The Australian Brute!'
Alas! Alas! The Bandicoot!"
-Charles Mortimer, Some Queer Animals and Why
Hear more of these excellent poems in person!
