Little Birds are dining br Warily and well, br Hid in mossy cell: br Hid, I say, by waiters br Gorgeous in their gaiters - br I've a Tale to tell. br br Little Birds are feeding br Justices with jam, br Rich in frizzled ham: br Rich, I say, in oysters br Haunting shady cloisters - br That is what I am. br br Little Birds are teaching br Tigresses to smile, br Innocent of guile: br Smile, I say, not smirkle - br Mouth a semicircle, br That's the proper style! br br Little Birds are sleeping br All among the pins, br Where the loser wins: br Where, I say, he sneezes br When and how he pleases - br So the Tale begins. br br Little Birds are writing br Interesting books, br To be read by cooks: br Read, I say, not roasted - br Letterpress, when toasted, br Loses its good looks. br br Little Birds are playing br Bagpipes on the shore, br Where the tourists snore: br "Thanks!" they cry. "'Tis thrilling! br Take, oh take this shilling! br Let us have no more!" br br Little Birds are bathing br Crocodiles in cream, br Like a happy dream: br Like, but not so lasting - br Crocodiles, when fasting, br Are not all they seem! br br Little Birds are choking br Baronets with bun, br Taught to fire a gun: br Taught, I say, to splinter br Salmon in the winter - br Merely for the fun. br br Little Birds are hiding br Crimes in carpet-bags, br Blessed by happy stags: br Blessed, I say, though beaten - br Since our friends are eaten br When the memory flags. br br Little Birds are tasting br Gratitude and gold, br Pale with sudden cold: br Pale, I say, and wrinkled - br When the bells have tinkled, br And the Tale is told.