The pelican’s a noble bird and a good sport,
much abused by poetic sorts
who ask how his beak can hold more than his bellican
and pointing out how you and I can pick up a dime
while, with that bill, a pellicant.
Enough with the punning and plays upon words;
The pelican is, among all the birds,
the one who will fish off a pier with you,
something a cat or a turtle won’t do,
much less a goldfish or a hamster.
I suppose if you get to be friends with a pelican,
close enough to josh with him, you might, after
you’re done, have a beer, start to joke around
about his name taxonomical, but heaven forfend
he should crack wise about you, you homo sapiens.
