yesterday, i saw a girl walking down the street
with a broken shoe.
the sole was snapping
like that wily old sinner, mr. crocodile
-a devious character in an old favorite book
mr. crocodile's patient.
because everyone gets thirsty eventually
and he lies easy in the river,
waiting for supper.
for years he's subsisted
on unfortunate suckers
mr monkey with his raggedy hat
dangles from the palm tree on the riverbank
why don't you join me for dinner?
smiles mr crocodile
i doubt that would be wise
mr monkey replies
but perhaps you'd enjoy one of these
and drops a coconut right on his snout
that's very rude, mr crocodile snarls
what have i done, to deserve such a slap?
haven't i kept the river clean for all these years?
why i was here when your uncle's uncle
was still wet behind the ears
and now you hit me with coconuts
can't you see these tears?
if you would drop down to the sand
i could show you just what i mean
no tricks up my sleeve,
we could shake hands.
after all we're both gentlemen, if you please
oh mr crocodile, those don't look like tears
more like a gleam or a wink
you're planning to eat me i think
mr monkey that hurts me
i have no such designs
i'm just admiring your beautiful hat
and red-tailed coat
your insinuations are giving me
lumps in my throat
oh mr crocodile, do you really expect me
to believe such dissembling lies?
if i'm not mistaken, that's my brother inside
mr monkey, i confess it's true,
i've been compelled to neutralize
a palm wine-crazed baboon,
but surely you realize,
that i'm your brother too
come down and take a gander
satisfy your doubts and end this slander
mr monkey doffed his raggedy hat
shook his head sadly and said i think not,
-here's a little dessert.
open wide and say ah, mr croc
and lobbed a big coconut
right down his craw
i know what you're thinking right about now
what in tarnation but inflamed 'magination
gets monkeys and crocodiles
from mundane observation
of a girl walking down the street
with one broken shoe
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