Porcupine, Snake, & Company

Going shares with the Snakes, Porcupine
Said--"the best of the bargain is mine:"
Nor would he back down,
When the snake would disown
The agreement his quills made them sign.

Hasty Partnerships May Be Repented Of

Walter Crane

Walter Crane was an English artist and book illustrator, considered to be one of the most prolific and influential children's book creators of his generation. Born on August 15, 1845, and passing away on March 14, 1915, he was part of the Arts and Crafts movement and is known for his innovative contributions to children's literature. His work often combined art and poetry, aiming to educate and delight young readers.

Walter Crane

The Fox & The Crow

Walter Crane, Simple Poetry

Warm Hands

Walter Crane, Simple Poetry

Ringel Tanz

Walter Crane, Simple Poetry

The Absurd ABC

Walter Crane, Simple Poetry

English

Suggested Poems

Explore a curated selection of verses that share themes, styles, and emotional resonance with the poem you've just read.

The Man & The Snake

In pity he brought the poor Snake
To be warmed at his fire. A mistake!
For the ungrateful thing
Wife & children would sting.
I have known some as bad as the Snake.

Beware How You Entertain Traitors

Walter Crane

The Geese & The Cranes

The Geese joined the Cranes in some wheat;
All was well, till, disturbed at their treat,
Light-winged, the Cranes fled,
But the slow Geese, well fed,
Couldn't rise, and were caught in retreat.

Beware Of Enterprizes Where The Risks Are Not Equal

Walter Crane

The Snake & The File

A Snake, in a fix, tried a File
For a dinner. "'Tis not worth your while,"
Said the steel, "don't mistake;
I'm accustomed to take,
To give's not the way of a File."

We May Meet Our Match

Walter Crane

The Bat, The Bush, And The Duck.

^[1]

A bush, duck, and bat, having found that in trade,
Confined to their country, small profits were made,
Into partnership enter'd to traffic abroad,
Their purse, held in common, well guarded from fraud.
Their factors and agents, these trading allies
Employ'd where they needed, as cautious as wise:
Their journals and ledgers, exact and discreet,
Recorded by items expense and receipt.
All throve, till an argosy, on its way home,
With a cargo worth more than their capital sum,
In attempting to pass through a dangerous strait,
Went down with its passengers, sailors, and freight,
To enrich those enormous and miserly stores,
From Tartarus distant but very few doors.
Regret was a thing which the firm could but feel;
Regret was the thing they were s...

Jean de La Fontaine

The Ungrateful Wolf

To the Wolf, from whose throat Dr Crane
Drew the bone, his long bill made it plain
He expected his fee:
Snarled Wolf--"Fiddle de dee,
Be thankful your head's out again."

Some Characters Have No Sense Of Obligation

Walter Crane

The Plough Boy In Luck

1.
My daddy is dead, but I can't tell you how;
He left me six horses to follow the plough;
With my whim wham waddle ho!
Strim stram straddle ho!
Bubble ho! pretty boy, over the brow.

2.
I sold my six horses to buy me a cow;
And wasn't that a pretty thing to follow the plough?
With my, &c.

3.
I sold my cow to buy me a calf,
For I never made a bargain but I lost the best half.
With my, &c.

4.
I sold my calf to buy me a cat,
To sit down before the fire to warm her little back.
With my, &c.

5.
I sold my cat to buy me a mouse,
But she took fire in her tail and so burnt up my house.
With my, &c.

Walter Crane