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Edward Lear

Edward Lear

The Akond of Swat

Who, or why, or which, or what, Is the Akond of SWAT?
 
Is he tall or short, or dark or fair?
Does he sit on a stool or a sofa or a chair,
      &nb sp; or SQUAT,
    The Akond of Swat?
 
Is he wise or foolish, young or old?
Does he drink his soup and his coffee cold,
      &nbs p; or HOT,
    The Akond of Swat?
 
Does he sing or whistle, jabber or talk,
And when riding abroad does he gallop or walk
      &nbsp ; or TROT,
    The Akond of Swat?
 
Does he wear a turban, a fez, or a hat?
Does he sleep on a mattress, a bed, or a mat,
      &nbsp ; or COT,
    The Akond of Swat?
 
When he writes a copy in round-hand size,
Does he cross his T’s and finish his I’s
         with a DOT,
    The Akond of Swat?
 
Can he write a letter concisely clear
Without a speck or a smudge or smear
      &nbs p; or BLOT,
    The Akond of Swat?
 
Do his people like him extremely well?
Or do they, whenever they can, rebel,
      &nb sp; or PLOT,
    At the Akond of Swat?
 
If he catches them then, either old or young,
Does he have them chopped in pieces or hung,
      &nbs p; or SHOT,
    The Akond of Swat?
 
Do his people prig in the lanes or park?
Or even at times, when days are dark,
      &nbs p; GAROTTE,
    The Akond of Swat?
 
Does he study the wants of his own dominion?
Or doesn’t he care for public opinion
      &n bsp; a JOT,
    The Akond of Swat?
 
To amuse his mind do his people show him
Pictures, or any one’s last new poem,
      &nbs p; or WHAT,
    For the Akond of Swat?
 
At night if he suddenly screams and wakes,
Do they bring him only a few small cakes,
      &nb sp; or a LOT,
    For the Akond of Swat?
 
Does he live on turnips, tea, or tripe?
Does he like his shawl to be marked with a stripe,
      &n bsp; or a DOT,
    The Akond of Swat?
 
Does he like to lie on his back in a boat
Like the lady who lived in that isle remote,
      &n bsp; SHALLOTT,
    The Akond of Swat?
 
Is he quiet, or always making a fuss?
Is his steward a Swiss or a Swede or Russ,
      &nbs p; or a SCOT,
    The Akond of Swat?
 
Does like to sit by the calm blue wave?
Or to sleep and snore in a dark green cave,
      &nbs p; or a GROTT,
    The Akond of Swat?
 
Does he drink small beer from a silver jug?
Or a bowl? or a glass? or a cup? or a mug?
      &nbsp ; or a POT,
    The Akond of Swat?
 
Does he beat his wife with a gold-topped pipe,
When she let the gooseberries grow too ripe,
      &nbs p; or ROT,
    The Akond of Swat?
 
Does he wear a white tie when he dines with friends,
And tie it neat in a bow with ends,
      &nbs p; or a KNOT.
    The Akond of Swat?
 
Does he like new cream, and hate mince-pies?
When he looks at the sun does he wink his eyes,
      &nbs p; or NOT,
    The Akond of Swat?
 
Does he teach his subjects to roast and bake?
Does he sail about on an inland lake
      &nbsp ; in a YACHT,
    The Akond of Swat?
 
Some one, or nobody, knows I wot
Who or which or why or what
    Is the Akond of Swat?

#EnglishWriters

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Limerick: There Was an Old Person of Rhodes

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The Table and the Chair

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Limerick: There Was an Old Person of Basing

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Limerick: There Was an Old Man of the Wrekin

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Alphabet, No. 6.

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Imitation of the Olden Poets

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Limerick: There Was an Old Man of the Dee

There was an Old Man of the Dee, Who was sadly annoyed by a flea; When he said, ‘I will scratch it,… They gave him a hatchet, Which grieved that Old Man of the…
Limerick: There Was an Old Person of Buda

There was an Old Person of Buda, Whose conduct grew ruder and ruder… Till at last, with a hammer, They silenced his clamour, By smashing that Person of Buda.
He Lived at Dingle Bank

He lived at Dingle Bank– he did;… He lived at Dingle Bank; And in his garden was one Quail, Four tulips and a Tank: And from his window he could see
How Pleasant to Know Mr. Lear

How pleasant to know Mr. Lear, Who has written such volumes of st… Some think him ill-tempered and qu… But a few find him pleasant enough… His mind is concrete and fastidiou…
Limerick:There Was a Young Lady of Clare

There was a Young Lady of Clare, Who was sadly pursued by a bear; When she found she was tired, She abruptly expired, That unfortunate Lady of Clare.
Limerick: There Was an Old Man of Apulia

There was an Old Man of Apulia, Whose conduct was very peculiar He fed twenty sons, Upon nothing but buns, That whimsical Man of Apulia.
The Owl and the Pussy-Cat

The Owl and the Pussy-cat went to… In a beautiful pea-green boat, They took some honey, and plenty o… Wrapped up in a five-pound note. The Owl looked up to the stars ab…



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