Around the World in the Good Ship DOGGEREL, 154

A doggerel series about the countries of the world.

Sierra Leone.

It has a history—slavery—

West Africa, the place.

But now Freetown’s its capital—

Now distant from disgrace.

“The Lion Mountains”—this, its name,

From 1462.

A name to keep me far away—

And also true for you?

The British ruled the place until,
Oh, 1961.

A civil war—some twenty years!—

But peace has lately won.

And agriculture still remains

The source for people’s lives—

At least the main one, though, I fear,

A farmer rarely thrives.

It’s got some hippopotamus—

Some elephant, as well.

Some antelope that leopards chase

For suppers (so they tell).

Some pigs (the wild kind) roam about,

Enjoying being free.

And there resides our relative—

That’s right: the chimpanzee!

And off the coast—marine life thrives,

Avoiding crimes and jails.

(And aren’t I just so clever to

Set up a rhyme for whales?)