THE PEACOCK'S TALE

NOW USUALLY I'M MODEST, A VERY QUIET BIRD,

AND EVEN IN MY OWN DEFENSE, I SELDOM SAY A WORD;

ALTHOUGH I'M OFTEN TEMPTED, AND , LIKE THE GHOST OF OLD,

IF I BUT HAD A PROPER CHANCE, I COULD A TALE UNFOLD.

THE PUBLIC IS UNGRATEFUL, THAT'S A PROVERB, AS YOU KNOW.

IT'S TRUE, FOR OFTEN I'M ACCUSED OF DOING THINGS FOR SHOW.

I'M JUST AN ORNAMENTAL BIRD AND DO THE THINGS I CAN,

I ONLY SEEK TO PLEASE YOU WHEN I MAKE MY TAIL A FAN;

BUT, WHEN I SPREAD AND SAIL AROUND BEFORE THE GAPING CROWD,

THE COMMENT THAT I HEAR, "THE PEACOCK IS SO PROUD!"

AND YET I'VE SEEN THEM RUN A BLOCK TO CATCH A GLIMPSE OF ME,

AND IF I CHANCE TO DROP A QUILL, HOW NIMBLE THEY CAN BE;

THEY 'LL JUMP THE FENCE  AND BREAK THE LAW--WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT?

TO GET THAT FEATHER FROM MY TAIL TO ORNAMENT A HAT.

COPYWRITED 1923.