Whyrus Virus ?

What led to this abrupt awakening so late

Of a virus ancienter than Cyrus The Great ?

Perhaps, bored stiff under subterranean ice,

It thought a microscope would be nice.

It doesn't know the internet nor Justin Bieber
Deprived for 30,000 years without amoeba

It looks odd , somewhat like the footprint of a yeti

(Not that anybody's seen a yeti, not even a Veti)

The virus' non-virulence comes as a relief

Although I'd still culture a germ of disbelief 

Are we sure that this little old Rip Van Winkle 

Is incapable of causing a crinkle or a wrinkle ?

Mind. You don't want to get too close or thick !

An infection could get you feeling very Jurasick.

("30,000 year old giant virus comes back to life")

(C) Bhaskar Khaund

Giraffes Are Gentlemen

On decorum and protocol

The giraffe stands very tall.
Crime pages on the Telegraph
Never feature any Giriffraff

(With due nods, respects and deference to the one and only Ogden Nash)

(c) Bhaskar Khaund

Yo ! Hippo ! (or , Making A Hash Of Nash)

So large is the African  hippopotamus 

A single one makes a river over-populous.

"One hippo is company" they say aloud

"Two hippos ? ... A crowd ! "

Although touristy and popular

The hippo's not jovial or jocular.

It remains silent and in stasis

As though under hipponosis.

A hippopotamus is rarely if ever emotional.

Melodramatic hippos are purely notional.

The hippo hallmark is a marked reticence

To display feelings of guilt or innocence.

I have it in good authority from a ranger

That an upset hippo poses a danger. 

If you ever give a hippo a hoick

It is unlikely to remain stoic.

A man who once tried to tease a hippo

Found that was no way to please a hippo.

Another who tried to stimulate it with books

Now happens to emulate its looks.

The hippopotamus to us  is pure mystery !

What are its hobbies ? What's its history ?

Does it care about its habitat being in a mess ?

On current evidence , it  couldn't care less.

About the musical tastes of the hippopotamus

Not  very much is known to us.

Does it prefer classical , jazz , or pop ? 

Perhaps  just a little Hippo Hop.

(Inspired by the one and only Ogden Nash)

(c)  Bhaskar Khaund