Tag Archives: Hilaire Belloc

“The Lion” by Hilaire Belloc [w/ Audio]

Posted on by
Reply 
The Lion, the Lion, he dwells in the Waste,
  He has a big head and a very small waist;
  But his shoulders are stark, and his jaws they are grim,
  And a good little child will not play with him.

“The Yak” by Hilaire Belloc [w/ Audio]

Posted on by
Reply 
As a friend to the children commend me the Yak.
 You will find it exactly the thing:
 It will carry and fetch, you can ride on its back,
 Or lead it about with a string.

The Tartar who dwells on the plains of Thibet
   (A desolate region of snow)
 Has for centuries made it a nursery pet,
 And surely the Tartar should know!

Then tell your papa where the Yak can be got,
 And if he is awfully rich
 He will buy you the creature -- or else he will not. 
   (I cannot be positive which.)

The Frog by Hilaire Belloc [w/ Audio]

Posted on by
1 
Be kind and tender to the Frog,
   And do not call him names,
 As 'Slimy skin,' or 'Polly-wog,'
   Or likewise 'Ugly James,'
 Or 'Gape-a-grin, or 'Toad-gone-wrong,'
   Or 'Billy Bandy-knees':
 The Frog is justly sensitive
   To epithets like these.
 No animal will more repay
   A treatment kind and fair;
 At least so lonely people say
   Who keep a frog (and, by the way,
 They are extremely rare).