The Precipitate Cock And The Unappreciated Pearl

A rooster once pursued a worm     That lingered not to brave him,     To see his wretched victim squirm     A pleasant thrill it gave him;     He summoned all his kith and kin,     They hastened up by legions,     With quaint, expressive gurgles in     Their oesophageal regions.     Just then a kind of glimmering     Attracting his attention,     The worm became too small a thing     For more than passing mention:     The throng of hungry hens and rude     He skilfully evaded.     Said he, "I' faith, if this be food,     I saw the prize ere they did."     It was a large and costly pearl,     Belonging in a necklace,     And dropped by some neglectful girl:     Some people are so reckless!     The cock assumed an air forlorn,     And cried, "It's really cruel.     I thought it was a grain of corn:     It's nothing but a jewel."     He turned again to where his clan     In one astounding tangle     With eager haste together ran     To slay the helpless angle,     And sighed, "He was of massive size.     I should have used discretion.     Too late! Around the toothsome prize     A bargain-sale's in session."     The worm's remarks upon his plight     Have never been recorded,     But any one may know how slight     Diversion it afforded;     For worms and human beings are     Unanimous that, when pecked,     To be the prey of men they far     Prefer to being hen-pecked.     THE MORAL: When your dinner comes     Don't leave it for your neighbors,     Because you hear the sound of drums     And see the gleam of sabres;     Or, like the cock, you'll find too late     That ornaments external     Do not for certain indicate     A bona fide kernel.