Such a Tragedy
by cricketjeff on April 20, 2009. © Jeff Green, All rights reserved
I hope you find my story life enhancing,
About two friends with elephantine thighs.
When Twinkle-Toes O’Donnell started dancing
He chose a partner almost twice his size,
The pair resembled Clydesdale horses prancing
The judges simply disbelieved their eyes!
But Twinkle-Toes and Daisy didn’t care
They always held their heads high in the air.
Each week they danced on Tuesday and on Friday,
Rehearsing in between to get it right.
They disregarded friends who asked them why they
Would waste their time cavorting every night.
Their sights were set on just one special high-day
When each would step out dressed in black and white.
For Twinkle-Toes and Daisy knew they’d share
The trophy for the finest dancers there.
To cheers all round they twirled like mighty fairies,
These hippopotami of terpsichore,
The style that wins a contest often varies,
And dance like this was never seen before.
The second best were dressed like bright canaries,
Our heroes danced these birdies off the floor.
But Twinkle Toes and Daisy weren’t aware
The balcony was unsupported T
H
E
R
E
!
Author notes
Three stanzas of Ottava Rima, An old Italian form brought into English a long
time ago, it was a favourite of Lord Byron’s amongst others.
The stanzas consist of eight lines of iambic pentameter (for variety an extra
syllable is often added to allow for feminine rhymes) with a rhyme scheme of
abababcc, each stanza is treated separately, no link in rhyme from one to the
next.
English