CUNNING TURTLE: A BALLAD-Editor's choice

CUNNING TURTLE: A BALLAD


REFRAIN:

Purple turtle of Orange,
Did his own marriage arrange
He first borrowed a silver,
And then he went to Denver.

I

There was once a big turtle,
Whose skin was red and purple;
He lived in city Orange,
One mile was his walking range.

II

One day an older turtle,
On him did challenge hurtle:
‘I will give you with a smile
My daughter, go up one mile.'

REFRAIN:

Purple turtle of Orange,
Did his own marriage arrange.
He first borrowed a silver,
And then he went to Denver.

III

So thought the cunning turtle:
‘This has many a hurdle;
I just don't know how to fly,
But I can't let her go by'.

IV

He put on his thinking cap,
And, lo! He worked out the trap;
‘This is easy, let me try,
Why can't go I one mile high'?*

REFRAIN:

Purple turtle of Orange,
Did his own marriage arrange
He first borrowed a silver,
And then he went to Denver.

V

He then borrowed a silver,
Bought a ticket to Denver.*
From Denver he sent a wire:
"Come soon with your daughter, Sire.

VI

I have come full one mile high;
You can come and verify."
He got married, as promised;
And, both, then happily lived.

REFRAIN:

Purple turtle of Orange,
Did his own marriage arrange
He first borrowed a silver,
And then he went to Denver.



* Written in aa bb 7-7-7-7 format

*Denver, capital of Colorado, is known as the "Mile High City" as its height is 5280 feet [1609 Meter] above sea level.

• Initially written as item no. 760724, rated 4.5 by 4 viewers, which was replaced on 13 April 2005 by entry no. 342908 in the book SCIENCE, MEDICAL, LAW, HUMOR, CHILDREN, "SCIENCE, MEDICAL, LAW, HUMOR, CHILDREN" . Posted as the present static item on 22 April 2008.


• Featured as the Editor’s choice in Poetry Newsletter dated 27 August 2008.


M C Gupta
5 October 2003