Harry Hippopotamus

Now Harry Hippopotamus had such a heavy tread

That when he ran about the house his mother often said,

"Good gracious, Harry, softly, please! Your stamping hurts my head!

Besides, you'll wake the baby, who is fast asleep in bed!

Why, Harry, one would really think your feet were made of lead!"

I like to think that long ago a change was seen in Harry,

And he became as graceful and as lightsome and as airy

As any meadow butterfly or any woodland fairy! Who knows?

Perhaps the change has made his parents glad and merry.

(And yet, an agile hippo would be far from ordinary!)