There once was a Dormouse who lived in a bed |
Of delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red) |
And all the day long he'd a wonderful view |
Of geraniums (red) and delphiniums (blue) |
A Doctor came hurrying round, and he said: |
"Tut-tut, I am sorry to find you in bed. |
Just say 'Ninety-nine', while I look at your chest... |
Don't you find that chrysanthemums answer the best?" |
The Dormouse looked round at the view and replied |
(When he'd said "Ninety-nine") that he'd tried and he'd tried, |
And much the most answering things that he knew |
Were geraniums (red) and delphiniums (blue). |
The Doctor stood frowning and shaking his head, |
And he took up his shiny silk hat as he said: |
"What the patient requires is a change," and he went |
To see some chrysanthemum people in Kent. |
The Dormouse lay there, and he gazed at the view |
Of geraniums (red) and delphiniums (blue), |
And he knew there was nothing he wanted instead |
Of delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red). |
The Doctor came back and, to show what he meant, |
He had brought some chrysanthemum cuttings from Kent. |
"Now these," he remarked, "give a much better view |
Than geraniums (red) and delphiniums (blue)." |
They took out their spades and they dug up the bed |
Of delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red), |
And they planted chrysanthemums (yellow and white). |
"And now," said the Doctor, "we'll soon have you right." |
The Dormouse looked out, and he said with a sigh: |
"I suppose all these people know better than I. |
It was silly, perhaps, but I did like the view |
Of geraniums (red) and delphiniums (blue)." |
The Doctor came round and examined his chest, |
And ordered him Nourishment, Tonics, and Rest. |
"How very effective," he said, as he shook |
The thermometer, "all these chrysanthemums look!" |
The Dormouse turned over to shut out the sight |
Of the endless chrysanthemums (yellow and white). |
"How lovely," he thought, "to be back in a bed |
Of delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red)." |
The Doctor said, "Tut! It's another attack!" |
And ordered him Milk and Massage-of-the-back, |
And Freedom-from-worry and Drives-in-a-car, |
And murmured, "How sweet your chrysanthemums are!" |
The Dormouse lay there with his paws to his eyes, |
And imagined himself such a pleasant surprise: |
"I'll pretend the chrysanthemums turn to a bed |
Of delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red)!" |
The Doctor next morning was rubbing his hands, |
And saying, "There's nobody quite understands |
These cases as I do! The cure has begun! |
How fresh the chrysanthemums look in the sun!" |
The Dormouse lay happy, his eyes were so tight |
He could see no chrysanthemums, yellow or white. |
And all that he felt at the back of his head |
Were delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red). |
And that is the reason (Aunt Emily said) |
If a Dormouse gets in a chrysanthemum bed, |
You will find (so Aunt Emily says) that he lies |
Fast asleep on his front with his paws to his eyes. |