Limericks of the Turtle

April 1, 2008

for eyegillian, who offered the word “turtle”:

A turtle (the polyglot lad!)

Tried out for singspiel in Belgrade.

He was told, “For an aria

One needs must be hairia;

Your bagpipe entr’acte, though, ain’t bad.”

 

April 7, 2008

for goodbear, who offered the word “Spree”, her cat’s name:

A black-and-white kitty named Spree

Met friends in the city for tea.

She sighed, “I love Cody

More’n any horned toady,

But nobody pities poor me!”

 

April 14, 2008

for Jack’s mum, who offered the word ”pacotille”:

Pour mon toux j’ai pris quelques pastilles

Qui se vendent juste en face d’la Bastille.

Faites du son et de l’orge,

Elles me chatouillent la gorge!

Je crois qu’elles sont une pacotille.

 

And a sort of translation:

For my coughing I swallowed a dram

Of elixir I bought on the tram.

Made of wheat bran and oat,

The stuff tickles my throat!

I’m beginning to think it’s a sham.

 

April 21, 2008

For Jane, who offered the word “Spain”:

There was a young farmer in Spain

Who let his sheep play in the rain.

“I agree, wet sheep stink.

But if they should shrink,

They can buy reduced fares on the train.”

 

April 28, 2008

For Goodbear, who offered the word ”Rosencrantz”:

Have pity on poor Rosencrantz!

He was forced — when the Dane survived France –

To go spy on his friend.

Hamlet hastened his end.

How’s that for a kick in the pants?

 

May 7, 2008

For eyegillian, who offered the word “explore”

(and with thanks to Gelett Burgess):

I wish that my room had a door!

I don’t care so much for a floor,

But without any way

To get outside and play,

I won’t have a chance to explore!