Weird & Wonderful Pets

William Cowper took three hares to own As pets, although the eldest liked to bite They healed him when his nervous state broke down Along Parisienne paths: a stunning sight Gérard de Nerval, on a blue silk lead Walked his pet lobster, by the pansies bright Lucius Crassius, a strange man indeed Favoured a Moray eel, fed it on slaves For human dainties were its daily feed Lord Byron like to stir up social waves With his amigo, a great lumbering bear For this is how a mad, bad, bard behaves Salvador Dali walked with his ant eater Shahad al-Jaber, kisses her pet cheetah Michael Jackson housed a chimpanzee While Nero's favourite was the tigress, Phoebe Anne Boleyn kept a lapdog on her knee (today, designer pets are bought on e-bay) An orang-utan lived with Josephine Napoleon's wife, she served it on a tray John Quincy Adams caused his guests to scream For in the bath he homed an alligator And you can picture, if you will, the scene When a guest left-or did she- did he eat her? King Elvis Presley's pet, a kangaroo Played nicely as an act in the theatre A pet to play with, love, or reverence Fin, feather, fur: say, what's your preference?