Classic Poem

" PARROT , if I had your wings
I should do so many things:
The first thing I should like to do
If I had little wings like you,
I should fly to Uncle Bartle,
Don't you think 'twould make him startle,
If he saw me when I came,
Flapping at the window frame
Exactly like the parrot of fame?"

All this the wise old parrot heard,
The parrot was an ancient bird,
And paused and pondered every word;
First, therefore, he began to cough,
Then said, " It is a great way off,
A great way off, my dear"; and then
He paused awhile, and coughed again:
" Master John, pray think a little,
What will you do for beds and victual?"

" Oh! parrot, Uncle John can tell —
But we should manage very well;
At night we'd perch upon the trees,
And so fly forward by degrees."

" Does Uncle John", the parrot said,
" Put nonsense in his nephew's head?
Instead of telling you such things,
And teaching you to wish for wings,
I think he might have taught you better,
You might have learnt to write a letter:
That is the thing that I should do
If I had little hands like you."