Social Commentaries

The Yak

by Hilaire Belloc 1870–1953

From The Bad Child's Book of Beasts (1896)

Social Commentaries

As a friend to the children
commend me the Yak.
You will find it exactly the thing:
It will carry and fetch,
you can ride on its back,
Or lead it about
with a string.

The Tartar who dwells on the plains of Thibet
(A desolate region of snow)
Has for centuries made it a nursery pet,
And surely the Tartar should know!

Then tell your papa where the Yak can be got,
And if he is awfully rich
He will buy you the creature--
or else
he will not.
(I cannot be positive which.)

MLA

Belloc, Hilaire. “The Yak.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/belloc/60/.

Chicago

Belloc, Hilaire. “The Yak.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/belloc/60/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by Hilaire Belloc