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Rudyard Kipling

From The Crab That Played with the Sea

China-going P's and O's

Pass Pau Amma's playground close,

And his Pusat Tasek lies

Near the track of most B.I.'s.

U.Y.K. and N.D.L.

Know Pau Amma's home as well

As the Fisher of the Sea knows

"Bens," M.M.'s and Rubattinos.

But (and this is rather queer)

A.T.L.'s can not  come here;

O. and O. and D.O.A.

Must go round another way.

Orient, Anchor, Bibby, Hall,

Never go that way at all.

U.C.S. would have a fit

If it found itself on it.

And if "Beavers" took their cargoes

To Penang instead of Lagos,

Or a fat Shaw-Savill bore

Passengers to Singapore,

Or a White Star were to try a

Little trip to Sourabaya,

Or a B.S.A. went on

Past Natal to Cheribon,

Then great Mr. Lloyds would come

With a wire and drag them home!


. . . . .

You'll know what my riddle means

When you've eaten mangosteens.