A Pace of Asses

by Ed Shacklee

A pace of asses slowly pace,
a peep of chickens scratch and peep.
A paddling of ducks, disgraced,
hide behind their wings, and sleep.

A fall of woodcocks fail and fall:
a business of ferrets fault
the sloth of bears, and sloths, and all
a siege of herons would assault.

With bales of turtles bailing out
doves languishing in piteous dole,
a pounce of cats will glare, and dout
the skulking fox, the laboring mole.