Many a New Scale

Thorin N. Tatge

To “Many a New Day”, by Richard Rodgers, from Oklahoma!

Why should a creature who is healthy and strong

Blubber like a baby that her tail’s gone away?

A-wailin' for the member that she kept so long—

That's one thing you'll never hear me say!

Never gonna think that the tail I sold was the only tail among tails.

I'll snap my fingers to show I don't care;

I'll stretch my neck and I'll fluff my hair;

I’ll borrow a set of legs to wear;

And walk on down to the sales.

Many a new spike will grace my spine;

Many a great deal will find me;

Never have I once looked back to pine

Over the lost tail behind me;

Many a new scale will shine before I do!

Many a swift bird may dart and fly,

A thing that I cannot do.

Never have I taken to the sky

And soared to Vanuatu.

Never have I seen the world on high;

But now I know I’ve got to;

Nary a new scale will fall before I do!

Many a new face will grace my skull;

Many a glass eye may blind me;

Never have I once looked back to mull

Over the lost tail behind me;

Many a new scale will shine before I do!

Never have I envied more the fly

Whose compound eye beholds me;

Think of the details I could descry

Seeing manifoldly.

Never have I wanted more to buy

What insects could have sold me;

Nary a new scale will fall before I do!

Many a new arm will fit my sleeve;

Many a harsh deal will bind me;

Never have I once looked back to grieve

Over the lost tail behind me;

Many a new sun will dawn;

How does this darn thing screw on?

Many a bright scale will gleam before I do!