Habits of the Hippopotamus

- Arthur Guiterman (1871-1943)

The hippopotamus is strong

     And huge of head and broad of bustle;
The limbs on which he rolls along
     Are big with hippopotamuscle.
He does not greatly care for sweets
     Like ice cream, apple pie, or custard,
But takes to flavour what he eats
     A little hippopotamustard.
The hippopotamus is true
     To all his principles, and just:
He always tries his best to do
     The things one hippopotamust.
He never rides in trucks or trams,
     In taxicabs or omnibuses,
And so he keeps out of traffic jams
     And other Hippopotamusses.