The Pangolin

Now children hush, we must begin,
To praise the short-tailed Pangolin:
His temprament is calm and fair,
His armour is cemented hair,
He often 'curls up' for a day
His name describes this in 'Malay'.
He does not fret or feel forlorn,
At long-tailed Pangolin's sly scorn,
He lives on termites and on ants,
And does not cherish foolish wants.
So children learn to live at ease,
Like all the short-tailed Pangolese,
You may hope then to keep as spry,
As all the 'Manis Temmincki'.


Simon BJ