Around the World in the Good Ship DOGGEREL, 152

A doggerel series about the countries of the world.

Serbia.

A Balkan country with a past—

With deep regrets, an iffy cast

Of leaders who had hearts so dark

No light could live. So grim, so stark.

The country’s a republic now—

A constitution rules somehow.

For years it bridged the West, the East—

Though sometimes it just Fed The Beast.

It’s got so many carnivores—

To them we are but bites—s’mores!

The wolf, the fox, the cat, the lynx—

They are all there—my hope just sinks!

I sit a world away and hope

That peaceful ways increase in scope.

That people there—and everywhere—

Can learn to live with human care.

Around the World in the Good Ship DOGGEREL, 151

A doggerel series about the countries of the world.

Senegal.

Along the western coast it lies—

The coast of Africa, I mean.

It’s Senegal (which I’ve not seen—

Which is, of course, no real surprise).

It once was occupied—the French.

In 1960 came the news:

Yes, independence cures some blues,

And Hope arises from his bench.

The rolling hills and foothills there

Accommodate some rivers, too.

A climate that is hot for you—

And me, of course. (Such humid air!)

It’s got much wildlife—very wild!

Giraffe and elephant and cat—

A lion!—But you know of that?

I mean, I know you’re not a child!

Baboon and chimpanzee, as well.

And leopard (yeah, the one with spots)—

So careful with your little tots—

For cats get hungry, truth to tell!

So Senegal—along the coast—

Has much to lure the tourist there—

Like wildlife, if you really dare:

Be careful, or you’ll end up toast!

Around the World in the Good Ship DOGGEREL, 150

A doggerel series about the countries of the world.

Saudi Arabia.

The wealth that’s there—beyond belief.

If it were shared, there’d be relief—

Enough to end much human grief.

Along the Persian Gulf it lies—

A desert land (that’s no surprise)—

Religious history? The size

Of that’s beyond immense—

As anyone who has much sense

Must know. (There’s really no suspense.)

The country is a kingdom, so

The powerful, as we all know,

Maintain the wealth—that oil dough.

Restricted are the women there—

From clothes to words to acts to hair.

But things may change—if people dare.

An ally—an uneasy one—

For us there in the boiling sun

As we pursue what can’t be won.

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?

Around the World in the Good Ship DOGGEREL, 148

A doggerel series about the countries of the world.

San Marino.

They call this place a “microstate”—

Surrounded there by Italy

(As we’re surrounded, all, by Fate),

But fully independent—free.

Financial matters form the base

Of its economy. And high

Above this very different place

Rise mountains stark against the sky.

The aged architecture there

Brings tourists who now still admire

The artistry—artistic care—

The skill such structures all require.

It’s got some badger, got some fox.

Some squirrels frisk; some hares there hop.

And orchards, vineyards (yes, some hawks!)—

There, Nature’s wonders just don’t stop.

Around the World in the Good Ship DOGGEREL, 147

A doggerel series about the countries of the world.

Samoa.

I read that book by Margaret Mead—

About Samoan life.

(It seems that her research was … off—

And caused a bit of strife.)

This group of Polynesian isles

Shows splendid natural sights—

And are there times more pleasant than

Those Polynesian nights?

Jack London sailed there on the Snark

On his truncated trip

Around the world: His health was poor

His hopes gave him the slip.

And Treasure Island’s author lived

And died—Samoan soil.

Yes, Robert Louis Stevenson,

Whose literary toil

Produced, yes, Treasure Island and

So many treasured books

That all deserve not only first

But many second looks.

It’s got some animals out there—

Some strange ones: flying fox!

And geckos running here and there,

Escaped from Geico’s box!

But Samoa is a place I wish

I’d traveled to before,

For now as age and health decline?

Quoth Raven: “Nevermore.”

Around the World in the Good Ship DOGGEREL, 146

A doggerel series about the countries of the world.

Saint Vincent & the Grenadines.

Another Caribbean site—

A country, dude, though small and tight

Has got those beaches, private isles,

And yachts of many varied styles.

And Kingstown is the capital—

With hotel rooms, all very full.

The French were first—and then the Brits—

Who had to leave (did they throw fits?)—

And then the French—oh, yes, again!—

And the Brits (did all heads spin?).

Volcanic as these places are,

Eruptions are not very far

Away. No thanks. I’ll stay right here—

Where there is not too much to fear.

Just taxes, aging, vertigo—

Except for those, I’m good to go!