A BOY'S DESCRIPTION OF A GOAT

When the teacher asked young Leo to write a little rhyme

Describing some strange animal he'd seen at any time,

He seized his long slate pencil and this is what he wrote

About the common animal, which children call a goat:

A goat is stronger than a pig,

But often it is not as big.

It has four legs just like a horse,

But never runs on a race-course.

It gives good milk, though not as much

As cows and elephants and such,

But more than any bull or ox,

Rooster, ram, or sly old fox.

Like any mule, a goat likes hay

And all tin cans we throw away.

He's useful and I'm fond of him,

But some good folks have a strange whim

To hold their noses when he's near,

And act as if they greatly fear

To touch his fur which has the smell

Of something I know very well,

The odor I'd know anywhere,

It's like Dad's tonic for his hair.