There was a rumpus br When Christopher Columbus br Looked at the compass br And guessed it would be best br If he headed westward. br He’d in mind a finer line to China br He’d not pass go, where Vasco br Da Gama had his drama br Rounding Cape Horn in a storm br On his short-cut to Calicut. br Chris had an aversion br To directions Persian br So he made a diversion br On a different version br Of getting to the East, at least, br The thought, of a short sort of jaunt br To Japan, (or Cipangu br The name which that man knew) br He went for the long route br Which they said was the wrong route br But he kept on, like a terrier br Till he landed in America.