Love is sharper than stones or sticks; br Lone as the sea, and deeper blue; br Loud in the night as a clock that ticks; br Longer-lived than the Wandering Jew. br Show me a love was done and through, br Tell me a kiss escaped its debt! br Son, to your death you'll pay your due- br Women and elephants never forget. br br Ever a man, alas, would mix, br Ever a man, heigh-ho, must woo; br So he's left in the world-old fix, br Thus is furthered the sale of rue. br Son, your chances are thin and few- br Won't you ponder, before you're set? br Shoot if you must, but hold in view br Women and elephants never forget. br br Down from Caesar past Joynson-Hicks br Echoes the warning, ever new: br Though they're trained to amusing tricks, br Gentler, they, than the pigeon's coo, br Careful, son, of the curs'ed two- br Either one is a dangerous pet; br Natural history proves it true- br Women and elephants never forget. br br L'ENVOI br br Prince, a precept I'd leave for you, br Coined in Eden, existing yet: br Skirt the parlor, and shun the zoo- br Women and elephants never forget.