“THERE WAS A CROOKED MAN”

Evening Star, Issue 23723, 2 November 1940, Page 3

“THERE WAS A CROOKED MAN”

(B, X.Y.)

A, whirlwind blew upon the Night When Pierre Laval first saw the Light; It twisted Left, it twisted Right, It twisted round and round. It: made the Chimneys roar and rock, The agitated Weathercock Span off the Gable with the Shock And tumbled to the Ground. His Father opened, then and there, A Bottle of Via Ordinaire To celebrate this great Affair, The Visit of the Stork: And, though you may not credit me, That Infant fairly crowed with Glee When Father twisted skilfully ■. The Corkscrew through the Cork. In adolescent Years the Boy’s Most vital and enduring Joys Were gathered from those sorts of Toys That twist and twirl and turn. One never saw him pout or mope When playing with a Gyroscope Or twisting into Lengths of Rope The Rushes.of Auvergne. His Pets—if one may use the Term— Were Animals that writhe and squirm, The Caterpillar, Slug, and Worin, The Weasel and the Stoat. 'And if, upon a Country Stroll, He found a subterranean Mole At work upon its tortuous Hole, 1 It fairly made him gloat. And when he grew to Manhood’s Hays He always went from Place to Place By roundabout and devious Ways, Because, as he confessed. Although such Wanderings made him late, A Path monotonously straight Was Something he had learned to hate .As void of Interest. He set about establishing A Garden full of Everything That loves to twine and creep and cling, And droop and flop and sprawl. They clambered up the Rails, or spread All over every Garden Bed. No bold Delphinium raised his Head, Or Lupine straight and tall. His Pathway, from a crooked Stile, Extended for a crooked Mile To reach his crooked Domicile, Wherein his crooked Cat Was playing with a crooked Mouse In crooked and delirious Gyrations round that crooked House— Well—let it go at that. These Lines may be a String of Lies, But how did Pierre contrive to*rise? I leave the Answer to the Wise In Gallic Politics. But (this is not my own Idea) It’s safe to say that Greasy Pierre Has lost in Honours, though it’s clear He’s scored a Lot by Tricks.