The Echidna

An echidna passed across a track
heading towards a special snack

A naturalist muttered, ‘What a turn!
about this creature, I’ve got to learn.’

He kneeled to take a closer look
the echidna swung with strong right hook.

And it was such a heavy clout
it nearly knocked the watcher out.

The echidna curled into a prickly ball
snarling, ‘I don’t like you at all.’

The naturalist cried and mused upon
what it was that he’d done wrong.

He only wanted to see first hand
the weirdest creature in the land.

The echidna uncurled and stalked away
grumbling at his ruined day.

And idiots too dumb to know
you always let echidnas go –

About their business digging holes
and eating ants from salad bowls.

Or snuffling around a great big mound
Where tasty termites are always found.

To spare echnida watchers pain,
the moral of this tale is plain.

Always remember it’s very rude
to keep echidnas from their food.

© Margaret Pearce