DLTK's Crafts for Kids
An Alphabet Zoo

by Carolyn Wells

 A was an apt Alligator,
Who wanted to be a head-waiter;
   He said, "I opine
   In that field I could shine,
Because I am such a good skater."

B was a beggarly Bear,
Who carefully curled his front hair;
   He said, "I would buy
   A red-spotted tie,--
But I haven't a penny to spare."

C was a cool Chimpanzee,
Who went to an afternoon tea.
   When they said, "Will you take
   A caraway cake?"
He greedily took twenty-three!

D was a diligent Doe,
In summer she shovelled the snow;
   In the spring and the fall
   She did nothing at all,
And in winter the grass she would mow.

E was an erudite Ermine,
Who tried very hard to determine
   If he should earn a cent,
   How it ought to be spent,
And decided to purchase a sermon.

F was a fussy Flamingo,
Who remarked to his family, "By jingo!
   I think I would go
   To that animal show,
But they all talk such barbarous lingo."

G was a giddy Gazelle,
Who never could learn how to spell;
   But she managed to pass
   To the head of her class,
Because she did fractions so well.

H was a haughty young Hawk,
Who affected society talk;
   But when introduced
   At a large chicken roost
He excitedly screamed out, "Oh, Lawk!"

I was an idle Iguana,
Who lived upon curried banana;
   With tears he'd protest
   That he never could rest
Till he learned to sing "Eileen Alanna."

J was a jimp Jaguar,
Who purchased a Spanish guitar;
   He played popular airs
   At fêtes and at fairs,
And down at the Fancy Bazaar.

K was a kind Kangaroo,
Whose bonnet was always askew;
   So they asked her to wait
   While they put it on straight
And fastened it firmly with glue.

L was a lachrymose Leopard,
Who ate up twelve sheep and a shepherd,
   But the real reason why
   He continued to cry
Was his food was so lavishly peppered.

M was a mischievous Marten,
Who went to the Free Kindergarten;
   When they asked him to plat
   A gay-colored mat,
He tackled the job like a Spartan.

N was a naughty Nylghau,
Who wandered too near a buzz saw.
   It cut off his toes,
   And the shrieks that arose
Filled all of the neighbors with awe.

O was an ossified Oyster,
Who decided to enter a cloister.
   He could not return,
   So continued to yearn
For his home in the sea, which was moister.

P was a poor old Poll Parrot,
Who had nothing to eat but a carrot,
   And nothing to wear
   But a wig of red hair,
And nowhere to live but a garret.

Q was a querulous Quab
Who at every trifle would sob;
   He said, "I detest
   To wear a plaid vest,
And I hate to eat corn from the cob!"

R was a rollicking Ram,
Attired in an old pillow sham.
   When asked if he'd call
   At the masquerade ball,
He said, "I'll go just as I am."

S was a shy Salamander,
Who slept on a sunny veranda.
   She calmly reposed,
   But, alas! while she dozed
They caught her and killed her and canned her.

T was a tidy young Tapir,
Who went out to bring in the paper;
   And when he came back
   He made no muddy track,
For he wiped his feet clean on the scraper.

U was a young Unicorn,
The bravest that ever was born.
   They bought him a boat
   And they set him afloat,
And straightway he sailed for Cape Horn.

V was a vigorous Vulture,
Who taught animals physical culture;
   When a pupil dropped dead,
   The kind teacher said,
"You needn't consider sepulture."

W was a wild Worm,
All day he did nothing but squirm.
   They sent him to school,
   But he broke every rule,
And left at the end of the term.

X was a Xiphias brave,
Who lived on the crest of the wave.
   To each fish he would say,
   "Good day, sir, good day!"
And then a polite bow he gave.

Y was a young Yellowhammer,
Who raised a ridiculous clamor;
   And he chattered until
   An owl said, "Keep still!
I'm trying to study my grammar."

Z was a zealous old Zibet,
Toboggans he tried to prohibit.
   If any one tried
   To take a sly slide,
He ordered him hanged on a gibbet.

Visit DLTK's Alphabuddies for printable versions of each verse