But of course you haven’t seen it; and I truthfully confess
That I haven’t seen it either, and I don’t know its address. 
For there isn’t such an insect, though there really might have been
If the trees and grass were purple, and the sky was bottle green. 
It’s just a little joke of mine, which you’ll forgive, I hope. 
Oh, try! 
   Tri-
      Tri-anti-wonti-
         Triantiwontigongolope.

THE CIRCUS

Hey, there!  Hoop-la! the circus is in town! 
Have you seen the elephant?  Have you seen the clown? 
Have you seen the dappled horse gallop round the ring? 
Have you seen the acrobats on the dizzy swing? 
Have you seen the tumbling men tumble up and down? 
Hoop-la!  Hoop-la! the circus is in town!

Hey, there!  Hoop-la!  Here’s the circus troupe! 
Here’s the educated dog, jumping through the hoop. 
See the lady Blondin with the parasol and fan,
The lad upon the ladder and the india-rubber man. 
See the joyful juggler and the boy who loops the loop. 
Hey!  Hey!  Hey!  Hey!  Here’s the circus troupe!

YOU AND I

They say the eagle is a bird
That sees some splendid sights
When he soars high into the sky
Upon his dizzy flights: 
He sees the ground for miles around
Our house, and Billy Johnson’s;
But we cannot be eagles, for
That would, of course, be nonsense.

But you and I, some summer day,
Providing we’re allowed,
Will go up in an aeroplane
And sail right through a cloud. 
But, if they say we may not go,
We’ll stay upon the ground
With other things that have no wings,
And watch them walk around.

They say the bottom of the sea
Is beautiful to view;
They say the fish, whene’er they wish,
Can sail and see it, too;
The shining pearls, the coral curls,
The sharks, the squids, the schnappers,
And fish with fins (though not in tins)
And fish with funny flappers.

But you and I, some sunny day,
When weather’s in condition,
Will go there in a submarine,
Providing we’ve permission.

But if they say we may not go
We must respect their wishes;
And you and I will just keep dry
Because we are not fishes.

The earth is quite a jolly place,
And we don’t care for flying;
And things that creep down in the deep
Are sometimes rather trying. 
So, if they’ll grant a holiday
Or even only half,
We’ll lie upon some grassy place,
And think of things, and laugh.

GOING TO SCHOOL

Did you see them pass to-day, Billy, Kate and Robin,
All astride upon the back of old grey Dobbin? 
Jigging, jogging off to school, down the dusty track—­
What must Dobbin think of it—­three upon his back? 
Robin at the bridle-rein, in the middle Kate,
Billy holding on behind, his legs out straight.