Hilaire Belloc




The Camelopard


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The Camelopard, it is said
     By travellers (who never lie),
He cannot stretch out straight in bed
     Because he is so high.
The clouds surround his lofty head,
     His hornlets touch the sky.
How shall I hunt this quadruped?                            
     I cannot tell!                                                               
                         Not I!

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(A picture of how people try
And fail to hit that head so high.)

I’ll buy a little parachute 
(A common parachute with wings),
I’ll fill it full of arrowroot
And other necessary things,

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And I will slay this fearful brute
With stones and sticks and guns and slings.

(A picture of

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                               how people shoot
With comfort from a parachute.)