Around the World in the Good Ship Doggerel,130

A doggerel series about the countries of the world.

Oman.

It is the only country that

Begins with letter O.

That’s some kind of accomplishment

In alphabets, you know.

Oman is in the Middle East—

The Persian Gulf flows by.

It’s got some oil (are you surprised?)—

And what a desert sky!

It’s Arab and Islamic, and

Depends so much on oil.

But now it must diversify—

Petroleum can spoil.

There is some tourism, as well—

Oman’s a welcome spot

For tourists who are (no surprise)

So fond of being hot.

It has gazelle and ibex, too—

And I am down with that.

But now, I read, it also has

That fearful mighty cat …

COWARDLY CONCLUSION:

(The jaguar! I am running … fast …

But just not fast enough!

The race will end—so very soon—

Will I be dinner stuff!?)

Around the World in the Good Ship DOGGEREL, 129

A doggerel series about the countries of the world.

Norway.

I like Jo Nesbø —he’s from there

(It’s Norway that I mean)—

And his detective, Harry Hole—

Intelligence so keen.

This series of great mysteries—

Such sanguinary stuff—

But I devour Nesbø’s books—

And cannot get enough.

The capital is Oslo—this

Is something most folks know.

And it’s a place that’s known world-wide

For snow, snow, snow, snow, snow.

And glaciers, too—that winter stuff,

Those Viking ships of yore

That sailed around and left behind

All sorts of human gore.

It’s popular with cruising crowds—

Those fjords, mountain views—

And I’ll admit—if I could go—

That it’s a cruise I'd choose …

Around the World in the Good Ship DOGGEREL, 128

A doggerel series about the countries of the world.

North Korea.

Well, here’s some news (of course it’s not!):

We don’t know much about this spot.

I do know that so many fought

Back in that 1950s’ war—

To stop the Communists. So far

That has not worked too well—sub-par,

At least in North Korea, Yo,

Where progress has been oh so slow—

But rockets rise, as you well know,

And once again we face the choice:

To fight—or use the human voice

To settle things—and thus rejoice

At human rationality.

I dread what happens—what we’ll see

If missiles fly at you and me.

So here’s a plea for all of us

To use our minds (no blunderbuss!)—

Avoid the nukes: Discuss! Discuss!

Around the World in the Good Ship DOGGEREL, 127

A doggerel series about the countries of the world.

Nigeria.

It sits there in West Africa—

The Gulf of Guinea to the south.

And most of what I know of it

Has come by word of mouth.

Okay—and Wikipedia,

That scholar’s trusted friend,

Whose entries flow, oh, on and on,

As if they have no end.

Surprising, still: Yes, English the

“Official language” there—

Though there are many others that

Are spoken everywhere.

Its independence came way back

When I was still in school—

That’s 1960—be precise!—

When Elvis still was cool.

Its population? It’s the most

Of Africa’s large states—

About the crush of people, well,

There are no real debates.

Let’s not forget the animals

That roam around the place—

Some critters there are very nice;

Some others eat your face.

It’s got some elephants—and, yes,

Some jungle cats, as well.

A cheetah! Oh, no! Not again!

(I’m chicken—can you tell?)

But there are many parks for them—

All creatures great and small.

And so I’ll leave them in the Wild—

And hearing its clear call.

Around the World in the Good Ship DOGGEREL, 126

A doggerel series about the countries of the world.

Niger.

A landlocked country in the west—

It’s crammed up next to Chad.

But that location? So it goes—

And really ain’t so bad!

The capital is Niamey and

It’s not hard to pronounce:

In difficulty lies between

Catastrophe and ounce.

Its largest river (“Niger,” too)

Just forms a kind of arc—

And so important to the land—

Oh, yes, it leaves its mark!

Its independence came, you know,

In 1980—yes.

(I looked it up and didn’t have

To make a stupid guess!)

It is an agricultural place—

Its crops provide support

To clothe and feed and offer care—

Or so is the report.

And wildlife? Well!  Hyenas there—

And elephant, gazelle—

And cheetahs (no! oh, not again!)—

I do not feel so well!

Around the World in the Good Ship DOGGEREL, 125

A doggerel series about the countries of the world. 

Nicaragua.

Yes, this Central American country you find

Near Honduras and others down there.

And we know that the mountains and also the sea

Both affect the fine climate and air.

And Managua’s the capital—also a lake

That is vast in lacustrine appeal.

And you stand and you stare and you simply admire—

And you choose not to think but to feel.

And Grenada lies south—and some islands appear

If you sail on a ship for a look.

And there’s lots you can learn if you’re hungry, of course—

For you’ll see that those folks there can cook!

You will see in the jungle—unless it’s too late—

Some fierce cougar and jaguar and such.

Though I here must confess I’m a coward, you see—

And I don’t like big cats all that much.

Well, the Spanish were there (and their language still is),

And the battles for power have raged.

But things seem to have settled—at least for the nonce,

Or so I have presently gauged.

It’s a country that’s lovely—from mountain to beach.

And it’s not really too far away.

Do you think it will happen? For me or for you?

That we’ll meet on a beach there one day? 

Around the World in the Good Ship DOGGEREL, 124

A doggerel series about the countries of the world.

New Zealand.

Oh, sure, they filmed The Hobbit there—

And other films, as well.

But that is not at all the best

Of stories you can tell.

The Polynesians first arrived,

Oh, centuries before.

And then the British ruled awhile—

A century or more.

They still have a relationship—

New Zealanders and Brits.

It’s complex, but it’s not enough

To cause a tourist fits.

And Wellington’s the capital—

Oh, yes, that famous Duke

Who ruled at Waterloo back when—

His victory was no fluke.

It’s got a bit of everything—some

Mountains, rivers, lakes—

And many sorts of animals—

But has no native snakes!

Which means, of course, that if, back when,

The Bible changed somehow,

Well, we would still be innocent—

And still in Eden now!