Poem: 'The Sloth' by Donald Swann

[dwgm]

My father, may he be enjoying the back nine in Heaven as we speak, played the piano (and other musical instruments) by ear, and adored the music of Noel Coward. One year as a birthday gift we gave him a cassette tape of The King's Singers sing Flanders & Swann, and Noël Coward, which is no longer available, as far as I've been able to ascertain. I made a copy of it, and it became one of my favorite tapes, and, thus, the kids' too. ladymora and I particularly love...


~ The Sloth ~


A Bradypus, or Sloth, am I,
I live a life of ease
Contented not to do or die,
But idle as I please
I have three toes on either foot, Or half a doz. on both
With leaves and fruits, and shoots to eat,
How sweet to be a Sloth

The world is such a cheerful place
When viewed from upside-down;
It makes a rise of every fall,
A smile of every frown;
I watch the fleeting flutter by
Of butterfly or moth
And think of all the things I'd try
If I were not a Sloth.

I could climb the very highest Himalayas,
Be among the greatest ever tennis players,
Win at chess or marry a Princess or
Study hard and be an eminent professor.
I could be a millionaire, play the clarinet,
Travel everywhere,
Learn to cook, catch a crook,
Win a war then write a book about it.
I could paint a Mona Lisa,
I could be another Caesar.
Compose an oratorio that was sublime.
The door's not shut on my genius, but
I just don't have the time!

For days and days among the trees
I sleep and dream and doze
Just gently swaying in the breeze
Suspended by my toes
While eager beavers overhead
Rush through the undergrowth
I watch the clouds beneath my feet;
How sweet to be a Sloth.


~.~