Ede, J.P.

Bagged

1. A little pig once lived its life
2. In Erin’s lovely isle.
3. Indifferent to party strife
4. It wore a constant smile.
5.  
6. It roamed or slept the livelong day
7. And sought repose at night;
8. From food it never turned away
9. But gulped it down at sight.
10.  
11. It swallowed all that came its way,
12. Consuming it with greed;
13. And nought its appetite could stay
14. Or yet disturb its feed.
15.  
16. It chewed old clothes and ate old boots,
17. And more inside it packed,
18. Results of never ending loots,
19. When other food it lacked.
20.  
21. In course of time the porker died —
22. Beneath the butcher’s knife.
23. Nor was its hunger satisfied
24. E’en at the end of life.
25.  
26. For mark, they stripped it of its hide,
27. To make a bag of leather,
28. And in this manner occupied,
29. It keeps its traits together.
30.  
31. Whate’er it can its swallows still,
32. Good food it loves to munch
33. When someone brings, when cash is nil,
34. Some sandwiches to lunch.
35.  
36. Yet still as in the days of yore
37. Its appetite ne’er ceases,
38. Though sides should bulge it craves for more,
39. Its hunger but increases.
40.  
41. It gulps down books and kindred stuff,
42. Old clothes or Sunday suits,
43. And Saturdays, when fare is rough,
44. It swallows football boots.