Only black and white

 

When it is real cold outside

and you go for a stroll or a ride

you’ll put on your bright coloured coat,

so you can be seen out on the road.

 

But little seals have nothing so bright,

they only have one coat in white.

They already had that on

on the day they were born,

 

as white as the icy ground.

If you were there and would look around

you would see nothing if they weren’t to show

their great big eyes as black as coal

 

while their dark noses and tiny mouths

together make the third black round.

More colours they have not,

black and white that’s all they’ve got

 

When they grow older their coats will turn grey,

a colour alike to the wet sand they say.

So different to you, little apes.

You have coats in all kinds of shades.

 

In blue or red, yellow or green

so you’ll be always well to be seen

when you play outside

or go for a stroll or a ride.

 

 

Illustrations, free after various examples of picture postcards

© Joke van der Ark 2012

 

Rhyme  2