D stands for Dodo. He’s a bird
That isn’t known to many;
And this the reason, I have heard—
Because there aren’t any!
The Dodo, who once blithely blinked,
Is now exceedingly extinct,
And doesn’t it seem rather nice
To think that D stands for him twice?
E is for Elephant. I know
He isn’t natty, trim, or trig;
His eyes are rather small, and, oh,
I fear his ears are far too big!
But there’s a well-attested rumor
That he has quite a sense of humor;
So crack a joke whene’er you meet
An Elephant upon the street.
F is Flamingo. All please note
His wondrous height and girth;
He has the longest legs and throat
Of anything on earth.
Such throats are trying, are they not?
In case one catches cold;
Ah, yes! but just think what a lot
His Christmas stockings hold!
G stands for Gnu. Of course that’s right, but then,
It seems as if it should begin with N.
I could select some other beast as well—
Say, Goose or Grampus, Gadfly or Gazelle;
But seems to me the Gnu is more attractive,
He is so merry, frivolous, and active.