1Prose took the minstrel’s verse without a squeeze
2his exaltation shocked both youth and crone
3replies like this the dumbstruck brain may tease
4with cherry-pips his cottage floor is sown

5It’s one of many horrid happenings
6the North Wind Bites into his architrave
7he’s gone to London how the echo rings
8to break a rule Britannia’s might might waive

9Platonic Greece was not so talentless
10or grinning like a pale-faced golliwog
11from cool Parnassus down to wild Loch Ness

12With breaking voice across the Alps they slog
13ventriloquists be blowed you strike me dumb
14in cognac brandy is Bacardi rum?