1Prose took the minstrel’s verse without a squeeze
2for tea cucumber sandwiches a scone
3the understanding critic firstly sees
4one gathers rosebuds or grows old alone

5And yet ’twas he the beggar Fate just flings
6whose ocean still-born herrings madly brave
7the learning linguist cameramaniac sings
8to break a rule Britannia’s might might waive

9The wolf devours both sheep and shepherdess
10with gravity at gravity’s great cog
11and played their mountain croquet jungle chess

12We’ll suffocate before the epilogue
13on fish-slab whale nor seal has never swum
14the best of all things to an end must come