NOTE: This is what Shel Silverstein's "The
Unicorn" looks like in its original state:
"The Unicorn"
A long time ago when the earth was green
And there was more kinds of animals than you've ever seen,
And they run around free while the earth was bein' born
And the loveliest of all was the Unicorn.
There was green alligators and
long-necked geese.
There was humpy bumpy camels
and chimpanzees.
There was
catsandratsandelephants, but sure as you're born
The loveliest of all was the
Unicorn.
But the Lord seen some sinnin', and it caused him pain.
He says, "Stand back, I'm gonna make it rain."
He says, "Hey brother Noah, I'll tell you watcha do
Go and build me a floatin' zoo.
And you take two
alligators, and a couple of geese,
Two humpy bumpy camels
and two chimpanzees.
Take
twocatsandratsandelephants, but sure as you're born,
Noah, don't you forget
my Unicorn."
Now Noah was there and he answered the callin',
And he finished up the ark just as the rain started fallin'.
He marched in the animals two by two,
And he called out as they went through,
"Hey Lord, I
got your two alligators and your couple of geese,
Your humpy bumpy camels
and your two chimpanzees.
Got your
catsandratsandelephants, but Lord I'm so forlorn
Cause I just don't see
no Unicorn."
Ol' Noah looked out through the drivin' rain,
But the Unicorns were hidin' playin' silly games.
They were kickin' and splashin' in the misty morn,
Oh them silly Unicorn.
Then
the goat started goatin' and the snake started snakin',
The elephant
started elephantin' and the boat started shakin'
The mouse started
squeekin' and the lion started roarin'',
And everyone's
aboard but the Unicorn.
I mean the green
alligators and the long-neck geese,
The humpy bumpy
camels and the chimpanzees.
Noah cried,
"Close the door, 'cause the rain is pourin' -
And we just can't
wait for them Unicorn."
Then the Ark started movin', and it drifted with the tide,
And the Unicorns looked up from the rock and cried.
And the water came up and sort of floated them away -
That's why you've never seen a Unicorn to this day.
You'll see a lot of alligators and a whole mess of geese.
You'll see humpy bumpy camels and lots of chimpanzees.
You'll see catsandratsandelephants, but sure as you're born
You're never gonna see no Unicorn.
Click here to return to Revision Exercise #1 -
The Meaning of Shel Silverstein
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