Five Serious Limericks in homage to Gilbert White of Selborne
The reverend naturalist is dumb on Jehovah and Christ: reads lessons on Swallows and Martins, their fellows, for the Joker is known by His Jest.
In letters and notebooks he makes observations and seldom mistakes; sees preaching to birds to be sheer waste of words so listens to Curlews and Crakes.
Obsessed by a thought that revolves, Gilbert White never finally solves whether Swallows migrate or remain, hibernate or depart. Slowly knowledge evolves.
The Parson of Selborne's keen eyes spotted no lurking God-in-disguise nor Angels alight; the devout Gilbert White heard them larking about in the skies, and the Swift, fast asleep in mid-air, that circles the tower-top where his mate keeps her station of nidification was deity, hymnbook and prayer.
Anna Adams
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