Personal note: I learned this one a very long time ago, and it has stuck with me over the decades, popping up almost always with no need to go back and review it. I like it for the same screwball reasons I like The Twins and One Day While Walking On the Stair.

Eletelephony
Laura Richards

See also the printable, pocketable PDF
and the vocal presentation
(back to Poetry)

Once there was an elephant,
Who tried to use the telephant --
No! No! I mean an elephone
Who tried to use the telephone --
(Dear me! I am not certain quite
That even now I've got it right.)

Howe'er it was, he got his trunk
Entangled in the telephunk;
The more he tried to get it free,
The louder buzzed the telephee --
(I fear I'd better drop the song
Of elephop and telephong!)