The Great and Glorious Gliff

a ballad for children

I went walking one day to the market,
With money enough for a treat (to eat).
I had just bought a basket of pastries
When commotion arose in the street.

A man stood out front of the baker’s,
A bright gilded cage by his side (with pride).
I joined the crowd crowding around him
As to everyone gathered he cried:

     (Refrain)

     The great and glorious gliff!
     The rarest and finest of things (with wings) –
     The great and glorious gliff!
     What luck to her owner she brings!

     Come see the gleam of her feathers!
     Come hear the bliss of her song!
     You won’t find a finer bird in the world,
     Though you search it all your life long.

She has such unparalleled plumage,
The sheen of her coat is sublime (such shine!);
The talent of sixty-two seamsters
Could never sew something so fine.

She’s envied by beauties and dandies;
Her headdress could rival the queen’s (it seems) –
Her colours unique among nature –
Admire her purples and greens!

     (Refrain)

She has an illustrious lineage:
Her mother, a phoenix from high (no lie),
Her father a powerful griffin
Who conquered one-fifth of the sky!

Every one of her ancestors, noble!
Every drop of her blood a true red (it’s said):
Just look at her poise and her posture,
How proudly she holds up her head!

     (Refrain)

She has such melodious singing,
Her notes bring the king to his knees (with ease).
She warbles – the world stops to listen,
Yes, even the tides and the trees.

Her piano cures a headache,
Her forte dislodges the flu (it’s true),
Her song calms insomniac children,
And guarantees happiness too!

     (Refrain)

She has all the luck you could wish for
And casts your misfortunes away (they say).
The last chap who owned her was knighted,
And she could be all yours today!

You might find unspeakable riches –
You might find a strong, healthy wife (that’s right!)
Whatever your sad situation,
You all need a gliff in your life!

     (Refrain)

But just as the bidding was highest,
The gliff of such gloriousness squawked (we balked).
She stretched out her limbs with abandon,
And her feathers fell off as she walked.

The crowd turned at once on the conman
And everyone took back their bid (they did),
But after the scolding had finished
I bought her with two copper thridd.

     (Last Refrain)

     The great and glorious gliff!
     Together we walked home again,
     For the great and glorious gliff
     Was only a drab little hen.

     But I don’t want a hen for her feathers –
     I don’t want a hen for her song.
     The luck of a warm brown egg in the morn
     Is enough for all the day long.

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Annotations
The Greate and Glorious Gliff – Extras

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Inspirations
Poems of Dr Seuss and Shel Silverstein