Tit-Willow

More about Tit-Willow

prompt adapted from Charlie 145; evolved from a photo of Perboly's Garden

On a tree by a river a little tom-tit
Sang "Willow, tit-willow, tit-willow"
And I said to him, "Dicky-bird, why do you sit
Singing 'Willow, tit-willow, tit-willow'"
"Is it weakness of intellect, birdie?" I cried
"Or a rather tough worm in your little inside"
With a shake of his poor little head, he replied
"Oh, willow, tit-willow, tit-willow!"

He slapped at his chest, as he sat on that bough
Singing "Willow, tit-willow, tit-willow"
And a cold perspiration bespangled his brow
Oh, willow, tit-willow, tit-willow
He sobbed and he sighed, and a gurgle he gave
Then he plunged himself into the billowy wave
And an echo arose from the suicide's grave
"Oh, willow, tit-willow, tit-willow"

Now I feel just as sure as I'm sure that my name
Isn't Willow, tit-willow, tit-willow
That 'twas blighted affection that made him exclaim
"Oh, willow, tit-willow, tit-willow"
And if you remain callous and obdurate, I
Shall perish as he did, and you will know why
Though I probably shall not exclaim as I die
"Oh, willow, tit-willow, tit-willow"

-- W.S. Gilbert, from "The Mikado"