II.—SUPPOSING
Supposing one had been
Shut up in Noah's Ark
(During the flood, I mean)—
It would have been a lark!
The animals, you know,
Were not as they are now;
Quite different long ago—
Just see this purple cow!
The lion, it seems, was pink,
The bears and tigers too,
While zebras had, I think,
Most lovely stripes of blue.
But really, I forget,
For now the stripes are faint,
In my own Noah's Ark set
I once licked off the paint.
At least, so I am told
(A stupid thing to do!
But I was not so old
Then—only half-past two).
Noah's sons—just look at Ham,
Japhet, of course, and Shem!
I think I really am
Glad I don't look like them!
They all stand on green rings
Of grass. Perhaps at night
The cows and sheep and things
Prowled round to steal a bite.
Horrid for Shem to feel
Tickling around his toes,
Hoping to snatch a meal,
Two hungry buffaloes!
But think what lovely pets
Noah had all for his own;
Each one in double sets,
And mostly quite unknown.
Even a tame baboon!—
See, he is painted red—
Would get to know you soon
And sleep upon your bed.
The kangaroo that jumps,
Camels that learn to kneel
And let you ride their bumps,
Or follow you to heel.
The pets that I keep now
Are guinea-pigs and such;
My parents won't allow
The ones I want so much.
A baby crocodile
Or really tame giraffe,
I wonder why you smile;
They, too, say "no" and laugh.
I would have loved it so
To travel in the Ark,
With all the Zoo, you know—
Except when it was dark!
"The animals, you know,
Were not as they are now"