"The buffoon cried "boo!" to which the poltroon asked "boo who?"

Poltroons Buffoons Jackanapes and Scalawags

One poltroon and one buffoon met in the square one day
And each one wished the other one would go away
The buffoon cried "boo!" to which the poltroon asked "boo who?"
They had reached an impasse and neither knew what to do
When some jackanapes with a squad of scalawags
Swept on the scene and bundled both in burlap bags

Their tempers were ruffled their "boos!" and "boo whos?" muffled
Yet their protestations were heard by the passersby
Who reacted with indifference but asked "why
Should we care about these silly hobbledehoys?
Whether bundled in those bags or not they just make noise"

The jackanapes and scalawags took them out of town
Releasing them but not before hosing them down
Nor before having jolly jinks at their expense
For poltroon and buffoon both a fitting recompense
Wherein the punishment quite rightly fit the crime
After which the passersby passed this stern rule by rhyme:

"Should a poltroon and buffoon meet in the square someday
That which is just is that they must both be sent away"

+Steven Curtis Lance



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