For his first birthday, my brother Sasha gave Ben a booklet of his (Sasha’s) favorite poems (naturally, in five different languages). I was leafing through it a few days ago and ran across this gem that I’d always found very amusing, from Hilaire Belloc’s Moral Alphabet:
B stands for Bear. When Bears are seen
Appproaching in the distance,
Make up your mind at once between
Retreat and Armed Resistance.A Gentleman remained to fight.
With what result for him?
The Bear, with unconcealed delight,
Devoured him limb by limb.Another Person turned and ran.
He ran extremely hard.
The Bear was faster than the Man,
And beat him by a yard.MORAL
Decisive Action in the hour of need
Denotes the Hero (but does not succeed).
Granted, I’ll probably save it for when Ben can appreciate satire.
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