Ballad Of The Primitive Jest

I am an ancient Jest!     Paleolithic man     In his arboreal nest     The sparks of fun would fan;     My outline did he plan,     And laughed like one possessed,     'Twas thus my course began,     I am a Merry Jest.     I am an early Jest!     Man delved and built and span;     Then wandered South and West     The peoples Aryan,     I journeyed in their van;     The Semites, too, confessed,     From Beersheba to Dan,     I am a Merry Jest.     I am an ancient Jest,     Through all the human clan,     Red, black, white, free, oppressed,     Hilarious I ran!     I'm found in Lucian,     In Poggio, and the rest,     I'm dear to Moll and Nan!     I am a Merry Jest!             |envoy|:     Prince, you may storm and ban     Joe Millers are a pest,     Suppress me if you can!     I am a Merry Jest!