and the Bletherwitch
65
sing it without either or you shall not have a new coat until the Spring.”
So the Jackdaw stepped forth and sang as below, while the Rook irreverently cleared his throat above for his friend, and cried “Caw! Caw!”
The Jackdaw’s Jest.
If peaches grew on apple trees,
And frogs were made of glass;
And bulls and cows were turned to bees,
And rooks were made of grass;
If boys and girls were made of figs,
If figs were made of dates,
Upon the sands they’d dance like grigs
With bald and oval pates.
And frogs were made of glass;
And bulls and cows were turned to bees,
And rooks were made of grass;
If boys and girls were made of figs,
If figs were made of dates,
Upon the sands they’d dance like grigs
With bald and oval pates.
If mortals had got proper sense
And were not quite so mad;
Their mood would make them more intense,
To make each other glad;
If only they would understand
The things that no one knows,
And were not quite so mad;
Their mood would make them more intense,
To make each other glad;
If only they would understand
The things that no one knows,
