Number 139. The Fly-Past

The Fly-Past.

A fly flew close past Rufus’ eyes,

The way a lazy housefly flies;

It didn’t seem to care a bit,

What Rufus might just do with it.

It settled briefly on his nose,

And I’m told the story goes,

It only stayed a moment on

The very end and then was gone.

But as it circled round to land,

Somewhere close to Rufus’ hand,

He coolly caught it in the air,

Two fingers snapped and trapped it there!

The fly was taken by surprise,

And squished and sorry now it lies,

With several others on the table,  

Rufus thought he would disable.

Serves them right he told his dad

Flies like that are only bad!  

But when all is said and done,

The fly was not the only one

To bother Rufus in that way;

There were lots of wasps today,

So Rufus’ mum told him something,

To save him from a painful sting.

She said though he was very brave,

With wasps it’s better just to wave,

And though one kept on coming back,

Rufus thought he’d got the knack:

He knocked it in a glass of wine.

I'm glad to say it wasn’t mine,

The soggy creature climbed back out,

But couldn’t fly and got a clout.

Rufus piled him up beside,

The other flies that all had died;

Then he raised his arms and said,

I’m champion me, they all are dead!

 

© Stephen Saunders