Around the World in the Good Ship DOGGEREL, 172

A doggerel series about the countries of the world.

Tajikistan.

It’s landlocked there in Asia—

Nearby are other -stans.

It’s got a lot of mountains, so

Some climbers are its fans.

It once, of course, was Soviet—

Till 1991.

And then its independence came—

But progress? Never done.

Its history is ancient; its

Economy is based

On ore and agriculture. Oh,

What problems they have faced!

There are a lot of animals

That roam around out there—

Like marmot, antelope, and fox—

Like ibex, goat, and bear.

This country is both very new

And very, very old.

And we can safely say, of course,

That most has not been told!