Alligator and Boy by James McIntyre — Read

This is a true tale and no yarn, / Our boys bathed in Hoxa Tarn;

But for long they had spectator, / Eager, watching alligator.

He wished to make an example / With fattest boy for a sample, / So that the lads no more would fool, / 'Nor play around his favorite pool.

His fierce assaults the boys did warn, / But they resolved to hold the Tarn, / As they expertly all could swim;

For time, they out-manoeuvred him.

But they knew sooner or later, / They would be caught by alligator;

So strategy they did employ, / And they rigged up a seeming boy.

He thought, "I here bear sovereign rule, / No boy shall trespass in my pool;

So now I will enforce my laws, / And crunch him quick between my jaws."

He ope'd his mouth, the earth did shake, / Was it thunder bolt or earthquake?

For there was scattered far and wide / Grease and alligator's hide.