Mythology & Folklore

Animal Fair

by Thomas W. Talley (collector) 1870–1952

From Negro Folk Rhymes (1922)

Mythology & Folklore

Has you ever hearn tell 'bout de Animal Fair?
Dem birds an' beasts wus all down dere.
Dat jaybird a-settin' down on 'is wing!
Has you ever hearn tell about sitch a thing
As whut 'us at dat Animal Fair?

Well, dem animals had a Fair.
Dem birds an' beasts wus dere.
De big Baboon,
By de light o' de moon,
Jes comb up his sandy hair.

De monkey, he git drunk,
He kick up a red hot chunk.
Dem coals, dey 'rose;
An' bu'nt 'is toes!
He clumb de Elephan's trunk.

I went down to de Fair.
Dem varmints all wus dere.
Dat young Baboon
Wunk at Miss Coon;
Dat curled de Elephan's hair.

De Camel den walk 'bout,
An' tromped on de Elephan's snout.
De Elephan' sneeze,
An' fall on his knees;
Dat pleased all dem monkēys.

MLA

Thomas W. Talley (collector). “Animal Fair.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/talley/238/.

Chicago

Thomas W. Talley (collector). “Animal Fair.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/talley/238/.

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