The Crab that Played with the Sea (poem)

by


This is really a riddle! Enjoy Kipling's Just So Stories (1902) with your own "best beloved."
The Crab that Played with the Sea

China-going P. & O.'s
Pass Pau Amma's playground close,
And his Pusat Tasek lies
Near the track of most B.I.'s.
N.Y.K. and N.D.L.
Know Pau Amma's home as well
As the Fisher of the Sea knows
"Bens," M.M.'s and Rubattinos.
But (and this is rather queer)
A.T.L.'s can qiot come here;
O. and O. and D.O.A.
Must go round another way.
Orient, Anchor, Bibby, Hall,
Never go that way at all.
U.C.S. would have a fit
If it found itself on it.
And if "Beavers" took their cargoes
To Penang instead of Lagos,
Or a fat Shaw-Savill bore
Passengers to Singapore,
Or a White Star were to try a
Little trip to Sourabaya,
Or a B.S.A. went on
Past Natal to Cheribon,
The the great Mr. Lloyds would come
With a wire and drag them home!
.    .     .     .    .
You will know what my riddle means
When you've eaten mangosteens.

The Crab that Played with the Sea 2 


Enjoy another Kipling story from his Just So Stories. You might like The Cat That Walked by Himself.

8

facebook share button twitter share button reddit share button share on pinterest pinterest


Add The Crab that Played with the Sea (poem) to your library.

Return to the Rudyard Kipling library , or . . . Read the next poem; The Craftsman

Or read more short stories for kids in our Children's Library

© 2022 AmericanLiterature.com