The Pompous Toad

A pompous toad squatted atop a large turd

believing it to be an ivory tower;

the absurd amphibian seldom deferred

to good sense, maintaining that pomp is power.

A passing terrapod astutely observed

that the toad owed his lofty position

not to reason, logic or rhetorical skill,

but a random act of excretion.

The toad, undeterred by a critical word

or the peril of his precarious situation

chose to pontificate and thus irritate

humbler creatures of similar station.

A warning word blurted might have averted

the disaster that was to befall

but though other creatures saw danger approach,

the toad had offended them all

Tired of being hectored and harangued

and lectured none felt inclined to help

when danger flew, by so they turned a blind eye

as an ignorant crow swooped down very low

and swallowed the toad in one gulp.