He knew the tree from branch to root,
And an Owl like that can afford to hoot.
And he hooted until, alas! one day
He chanced to hear in a casual way
An insignificant little bird
Make use of a term he had never heard.
He was flying to bed in the dawning light,
When he heard her singing with all her might:
“Hurray! hurray! for the early worm!”
“Dear me,” said the Owl, “what a singular term!