Friday, August 4, 2017

Around the World in the Good Ship DOGGEREL, 149

A doggerel series about the countries of the world.


São Tomé and Principe.

And once again I’m humbled by
The things I do not know.
I’d never heard of this fair place—
Had never thought to go.

It’s near the coast of Africa—
Just off the western shore—
Where Portuguese is spoken still,
Where … oh, there’s so much more!

It’s equatorial, I see,
Has a volcanic past:
The islands rose as a result of
Some deep mountain’s blast.

The climate (duh!) is tropical—
And mammals? There are few:
Some bats will whip around at night—
It also has a shrew.

It has a lot of turtles—and
So many fish and fowl
At night, I guess, you still can hear
A startling, haunting howl.

I am more educated now—
I’ve learned a thing or two.
A country! Small! Near Africa!
Am thrilled to know it … you?



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