 | Jane and Ann Taylor: Original Poems for Infant Minds |  |
90
POOR DONKEY'S EPITAPH.
Down in the ditch poor Donkey lies,
Who jogged with many a load;
And till the day death closed his eyes,
Browsed up and down this road.
Who jogged with many a load;
And till the day death closed his eyes,
Browsed up and down this road.
No shelter had he for his head,
Whatever winds might blow;
A neighbouring common was his bed,
Though dressed in sheets of snow.
Whatever winds might blow;
A neighbouring common was his bed,
Though dressed in sheets of snow.
In this green ditch he often strayed,
To nip the dainty grass;
And friendly invitations brayed,
To some more hungry ass.
To nip the dainty grass;
And friendly invitations brayed,
To some more hungry ass.
Each market-day he jogged along,
Beneath the gardener's load,
And snored out many a donkey's song,
To friends upon the road.
Beneath the gardener's load,
And snored out many a donkey's song,
To friends upon the road.
A tuft of grass, a thistle green,
Or cabbage-leaf so sweet,
Were all the dainties he was seen
For twenty years to eat.
Or cabbage-leaf so sweet,
Were all the dainties he was seen
For twenty years to eat.
91
And as for sport—the sober soul
Was such a steady Jack,
He only now and then would roll,
Heels upward, on his back.
Was such a steady Jack,
He only now and then would roll,
Heels upward, on his back.
But all his sport, and dainties too,
And labours now are o'er,
Last night so bleak a tempest blew,
He could withstand no more.
And labours now are o'er,
Last night so bleak a tempest blew,
He could withstand no more.
He felt his feeble limbs grow cold,
His blood was freezing fast,
And presently you might behold
Poor Donkey dead at last.
His blood was freezing fast,
And presently you might behold
Poor Donkey dead at last.
Poor Donkey! travellers passing by,
His cold remains will see;
And 'twould be well, if all who die,
As useful were as he.
His cold remains will see;
And 'twould be well, if all who die,
As useful were as he.
| Jane and Ann Taylor: Original Poems for Infant Minds | |