Oh, ponder, friend, the porcupine; br Refresh your recollection, br And sit a moment, to define br His means of self-protection. br br How truly fortified is he! br Where is the beast his double br In forethought of emergency br And readiness for trouble? br br Recall his figure, and his shade- br How deftly planned and clearly br For slithering through the dappled glade br Unseen, or pretty nearly. br br Yet should an alien eye discern br His presence in the woodland, br How little has he left to learn br Of self-defense! My good land! br br For he can run, as swift as sound, br To where his goose may hang high- br Or thrust his head against the ground br And tunnel half to Shanghai; br br Or he can climb the dizziest bough- br Unhesitant, mechanic- br And, resting, dash from off his brow br The bitter beads of panic; br br Or should pursuers press him hot, br One scarcely needs to mention br His quick and cruel barbs, that got br Shakespearean attention; br br Or driven to his final ditch, br To his extremest thicket, br He'll fight with claws and molars (which br Is not considered cricket).