The Hippopotamus

The Hippo is an animal

Who’s as plump as plump can be;

And there’s really quite a little use

Of him as you can see.

He has a body so huge and stout

Which makes him very slow,

And when he tries to move about

He wobbles to and fro.

The Hippo has a mouth too large,

Of which there is no doubt,

Through which if you had the strength

You could turn him inside out.

He has four little stumps for legs,

Of which I don’t know much;

Except that if he had one less

He would have to use a crutch.

His skin is thick but rather smooth,

With little spots of red;

And this some say is the sweat he sweats

While others might say he bled.

The Hippo sometimes gets quite wild

And acts a little crazy;

But at other times he’s the most placid beast

And one who is simply lazy.

Now the Hippo is so lazy that

He sleeps his time away,

And anyone can tell you that

The Hippo cannot play.

But he can really swim you know,

And that is something great:

But I think its just the air in him

That reduces his weight.

Now about the Hippopotamus

I’ve told you a thing or two:

But if you want to know some more

You could visit him at the zoo.

Eric Anthony Trott

1980