You may quarrel with centipedes, quibble with seals, 
declaim to a duck in the park,
engage in disputes with cantankerous coots, 
but never mince words with a shark.
 
You may rant at an anteater, banter with eels,
and haggle with gaggles of geese,
     heap verbal abuse on a monkey or moose,
but a shark you had best leave in peace.
 
You may argue with otters, make speeches to teals,
and lecture at length to a shrew,
but a shark will deflate your attempts at debate,
and before you are done, you are through.