Poems: Buffalo

Signed art by David Elliot for 'The Buffalo' written by Jon Gadsby. This poem appeared in 100 NZ Poems for Children edited by Jo Noble

The buffalo is big and black
It’s really quite a pity
If he were small and pink instead
He’d really look quite pretty
 
The buffalo’s inquisitive
Although he looks so dozy
But when you’ve got a nose like his
It’s hard not to be nosy
 
The buffalo looks big and fierce
With horns upon his head
I wonder if he takes them off
Before he goes to bed
 
With horns like that it’s difficult
The buffalo admits
To buy a proper sunhat
‘Cause he can’t find one that fits
 
And so he rolls in mud instead
And wallows in his pool
He ends up looking grubby but
I suppose it keeps him cool
 
The baby buffalo is small
He wanders by the side
D’you think they ever lift him up
And take him for a ride?
 
I they should, considering
The trouble someone’s gone to
‘Cos all the buff’lo mums and dads
Have handles to hold onto.