Purple skunk

I did not ask for another
but she implored, "mother,
May he have one, two?

"What do you think it is?"
She inquired, her eyes embers of fire.
So I replied, "a fox."

Twas clearly a fox,
But belive it or not,
She insisted it was a skunk.

It was purple, that sticker
And though it lacked whiskers,
Its image was really quite plain.

I said with brow lifted,
"A skunk! You're quite gifted.
An imagination bright as your eyes."

She was smart as a whip
And without a dip
In her tone she said, "it really is.

It's purple, it's true,
but a skunk it is too,
Because, you see, it has no ears."

I enjoyed the logic and brain exercise
Of a four year old niece who didn't deny
That a purple skunk was a rare thing.

Now the odd skunk, displayed proudly
I defend and oft' loudly
To anyone who looks upon

"It's looks rather foxy
But I assure you t'must not be
For you see, it has no ears.

It's purple, it's true,
but a skunk it is too,
Because, you see, it has no ears."