Waxing Poetic
Before leaving this fruity chapter of Splendid Market, I did want to share the complete version of the poem I love so much, which mentions the lovely quince and the curious runcible spoon, The Owl and the Pussycat, by Edward Lear.
I |
The Owl and the Pussy-cat went to sea
In a beautiful pea green boat, They took some honey, and plenty of money, Wrapped up in a five pound note. The Owl looked up to the stars above, And sang to a small guitar, ‘O lovely Pussy! O Pussy my love, What a beautiful Pussy you are, You are, You are! What a beautiful Pussy you are!’ |
II |
Pussy said to the Owl, ‘You elegant fowl!
How charmingly sweet you sing! O let us be married! too long we have tarried: But what shall we do for a ring?’ They sailed away, for a year and a day, To the land where the Bong-tree grows And there in a wood a Piggy-wig stood With a ring at the end of his nose, His nose, His nose, With a ring at the end of his nose. |
III |
‘Dear pig, are you willing to sell for one shilling
Your ring?’ Said the Piggy, ‘I will.’ So they took it away, and were married next day By the Turkey who lives on the hill. They dined on mince, and slices of quince, Which they ate with a runcible spoon; And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand, They danced by the light of the moon, The moon, The moon, They danced by the light of the moon. |
This is from his homepage, which contains much more of his work, and is fun to explore. Click on Quince to visit.
Bruce Barone says
I read this story every night for years to both of my children. AT some point, I knew it by heart and simply recited it. They loved it. Me, too.
Emily Heston says
It's one of the best, Bruce, truly one of the best.