Dum Dum, 1901. R.I.P. Elegy on a rhinoceros, lately deceased. Homeward Mail from India, China and the East 1901 January 21: 67
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Captivity |
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Sumatran Rhino |
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Dum Dum, 1901. R.I.P. Elegy on a rhinoceros, lately deceased. Homeward Mail from India, China and the East 1901 January 21: 67
** Dum Dum is pseudonym of John Kaye Kendall 1869-1952
R.I.P.
Elegy on a Rhinoceros, Lately Deceased
Come, let us weep for Begum; he is dead.
Dead; and afar, where Thamis’ waters lave
The busy marge, he lies unvisited,
Unsung; above, no cyprus branches wave,
Nor flowers fertilise around his grave.
But ours it is to mourn, with welling eyes,
Th’ anachronistic pachyderm’s demise.
*
Blithesome was he and beautiful; the Zoo
Hath nought to match with Begum; he was one
Of infinite humour; well indeed he knew
To catch with mobile lips the jocund bun
Cast him-ward, by some sire-encouraged son
Half-dearful, yet of pride fulfilled to note
The dough, swift-homing down th’exultant throat.
*
While in pensive-wise he stood, ornate
With comfortable mud, and idly stirred
His rearward caudal, disproportionate,
But not ungraceful, while a wanton herd
Of revellers the mystic lens preferred;
Whereof the focus rightly they addressed,
And, Phoebus being kind, the button pressed.
*
Then, being frolic, he, with mien distraught,
Would, blindly groping, seek the watery verge
And sinl, nor rise again; but when, untaught
In craft, the mourners raised th’ untimely dirge,
Lo! Otherwise himself would swift emerge
Incontinent, and shake his tasselled ears;
And, all-vivacious, own the sounding cheers.
*
Nothing of base suspicion nor of guile
Was limned on Begum. His the mirthful glance,
The genial port, the comprehensive smile;
The very sunbeams shimmering loved to dance
Adown that honest, open countenance;
And, far as eye could pierce, his roomy grin
Was pink, as ‘twere Aurora dwelt therin.
*
Yet he is dead. Whether the wheaten feast
Some lawless lodgement made, nor found escape;
Or if, perchance, the wild and ravening East
Had howled adown that hospitable gape,
And, ill-requiting, knocked him out of shape,
We nothing know: only the fact is spread,
Not how he died: simply that he is dead.
*
Still, tho’ the callous bards neglect to hymn
Thy praises, begum: tho’, on dross intent,
The hireling sculptor pauseth not to limn
Thy spacious visage, kindly hands are bent
E’en now, to stuff thy frail integument.
Then sleep in peace, Beloved; blest Sultân
Of some Rhinokeraunian Devachân.
Dum Dum
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R.I.P. Elegy on a rhinoceros, lately deceased
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