Reading of Spike Milligan's comic poem "Silly Old Baboon".
POEM TRANSCRIPT
There was a Baboon
Who, one afternoon,
Said "I think I will fly to the sun."
So, with two great palms
Strapped to his arms,
He started his take-off run.
Mile after mile
He galloped in style
But never once left the ground.
"You're running too slow"
Said a passing crow,
"Try reaching the speed of sound."
So he put on a spurt-
By God how it hurt!
The soles of his feet caught fire.
There were great clouds of steam
As he raced through a stream
But he still didn't get any higher.
Racing on through the night
Both his knees caught alight
And smoke billowed out from his rear.
Quick to his aid
Came a fire brigade
Who chased him for over a year.
Many moons passed by.
Did Baboon ever fly?
Did he ever get to the sun?
I've just heard today
That he's well on his way!
He'll be passing through Acton at one.
