Beaver Wisdom

Henry Holiday, The Beaver's Lesson, Illustration to Lewis Carrol's the Hunting of the Snark

Oh young ones swim ashore,

And listen to slow assembled lore,

In the lodges of yore,

By care picked and patiently heed

By tooth and foot

From flotsam and reed.

This is the wisdom of the river,

Whose swift flow

Is not by nature hindered,

But to the Sea his haste doth grow.

Do not hunt after brother salmon

He is a wanderer and a friend true

Seek not the far stream

Where Maple does grow.

Love not the power

Of Prince Bear,

He loves the River

But for himself,

And in their bounty

He won't share

'Tis better your teeth fall

Of old age than neglect

Remember, one and all,

The River forgives not,

Nor forget.

Fell not the mighty Oak

He's stronger than me and you

In old age he learned more hexes

Than Ivy, Ash and Yew.