Poem by Arthur Guiterman

The Great Tyrannosaurus

The Great Tyrannosaurus
Lived centuries ago;
Through marshes wet and porous
He rambled to and fro.

The most tremendous Lizard
That ever browsed on meat,
His length from A to Izzard
Was forty-seven feet.

The Great Tyrannosaurus
In habitude was not
What one would call decorous—
He ate an awful lot.

Lamellibranchs in sixes,
Iguanodons to spare,
And Archaeopteryxes
Comprised his bill of fare.

The Great Tyrannosaurus
Of all the world was king;
With trumpeting sonorous
He swallowed everything.

When everything was swallowed
Beneath the azure sky,
What naturally followed?—
The Creature had to die.

The Great Tyrannosaurus
That was so blithe and free
Hath passed away before us;
Then learn from him and me:

This earth can never nourish
An appetite like his,
So if you hope to flourish,
Don't gobble all there is!

1. Pithecanthropus Erectus
2. The Traveler
3. The Legend of the First Cam-u-el
4. Rags and Robes
5. Going to Dover

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