Banish Air from Air -- Divide Light if you dare -- They'll meet While Cubes in a Drop Or Pellets of Shape Fit -- Films cannot annul Odors return whole Force Flame And with a Blonde push Over your impotence Flits Steam.
I saw, crawling out of the weeds, One quickstepping millipede. But, going daft, it's bow and stern Started to clash, and - as each turned - It tied itself in a knot.
That time of year thou mayest in me behold When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang Upon those boughs which shake against the cold, Bare ruined choirs, where late the sweet birds sang. In me though seest the twilight of such day As after sunset fadeth in the west, Which by and by black night doth take away, Death's second self, that seals up all in rest. In me thou seest the glowing of such fire That on the ashes of his youth doth lie, As the death-bed whereon it must expire, Consumed with that which it was nourished by. This thou perceiv'st, which makes thy love more strong, To love that well, which thou must leave ere long.
My Spring sleep is unswayed by dawn -- Though birds are heard through screen, still drawn. Recalling night sounds of rain and wind, I wonder how the flowers have thinned?
The quality of mercy is not strained; It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest; It blesseth him that gives and him that takes: 'T is mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes The throned monarch better than his crown; His sceptre shows the force of temporal power, The attribute to awe and majesty, Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings; But mercy is above this sceptred sway; It is enthroned in the hearts of kings, It is an attribute to God himself; And earthly power doth then show likest God's When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew, Though justice be thy plea, consider this, That, in the course of justice, none of us Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy; And that same prayer doth teach us all to render The deeds of mercy. I have spoke thus much To mitigate the justice of thy plea; Which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice Must needs give sentence 'gainst the merchant there.
From The Merchant of Venice (Act IV, Scene I.) Spoken in a court of law by Portia while she is disguised as a lawyer, Balthazar.
The Hyena is renowned for its cackle-- Not so of bats, birds, snakes, whales or jackals. So, why such an intense sense of humor? Perhaps, it's just a human-lampooner.
For the Ostrich, I feel quite bad: The bird's great gift, it never had. But, a flighted one, I don't wish to see; I'd hate to have a falling one land on me.