There’s a writhing pile of pigeons — Not two or a few or a smidgen — You can raise their clout, and call them doves, But I’m glad they're not on the wires above.
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.
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.
Skimming lightly, wheeling still, The swallows fly low Over the field in clouded days, The forest-field of Shiloh-- Over the field where April rain Solaced the parched ones stretched in pain Through the pause of night That followed the Sunday fight Around the church of Shiloh-- The church so lone, the log-built one, That echoed to many a parting groan And natural prayer Of dying foemen mingled there-- Foemen at morn, but friends at eve-- Fame or country least their care: (What like a bullet can undeceive!) But now they lie low, While over them the swallows skim, And all is hushed in Shiloh.
I was warned giraffes like to give headbutts. I told the man, "You must be nuts! Even if true, my head 's far too low." "That's why we built a tower, now up you go!"
Tower built at the Giraffe Centre to put humans at headbutt level.