The Whale

Ellis Parker Butler 1869 (Muscatine) – 1937 (Williamsville)



The Whale is found in seas and oceans,
Indulging there in fishlike motions,
But Science shows that Whales are mammals,
Like Jersey cows, and goats, and camels.

When undisturbed, the Whale will browse
Like camels, goats, and Jersey cows,
On food that satisfies its tongue,
Thus making milk to feed its young.

Asking no costly hay and oats,
Like camels, Jersey cows, and goats,
The Whale, prolific milk producer,
Should be our cheapest lactic juicer.

Our milk should all come from the sea,
But who, I ask, would want to be—
And here the proposition fails—
The milkmaid to a herd of Whales?

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 29, 2023

31 sec read
53

Quick analysis:

Scheme AABB CCDD EEFF GGHH
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 584
Words 105
Stanzas 4
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 4

Ellis Parker Butler

Ellis Parker Butler was an American author. more…

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