Topsy-Turvy World

 

IF the butterfly courted the bee,    

  And the owl the porcupine;    

If churches were built in the sea,    

  And three times one was nine;    

If the pony rode his master,          

  If the buttercups ate the cows,    

If the cats had the dire disaster    

  To be worried, sir, by the mouse;    

If mamma, sir, sold the baby    

  To a gypsy for half a crown;         

If a gentleman, sir, was a lady,—    

  The world would be Upside-down!    

If any or all of these wonders    

  Should ever come about,    

I should not consider them blunders,          

  For I should be Inside-out!    

 

Ba-ba, black wool,    

  Have you any sheep?    

Yes, sir, a packfull,    

  Creep, mouse, creep!         

Four-and-twenty little maids    

  Hanging out the pie,    

Out jump’d the honey-pot,    

  Guy Fawkes, Guy!    

Cross latch, cross latch,      

  Sit and spin the fire;    

When the pie was open’d,    

  The bird was on the brier!