Philadelphia Phonographic School
Philadelphia Phonographic School
Back about 1903
A parrot was the pet to be
But teaching Pretty Polly speech
Real words – not just a screech
Took some patience – took some time
For Pretty Polly just to mime
The teacher must stay out of sight
As phrase and words they would recite
Repeating them a thousand times
Before the light in Polly shines
So the Philadelphia Phonographic School
Of Language for Parrots was the tool
A phonograph was left that plays
Your choice of words for days and days
You had to pay for room and board
Six months – eight pounds – and your reward
Was Pretty Polly speaking words
Repeating everything she heard
But parrots live for sixty years
For sixty years your poor-poor ears
Will hear those same words every day
Until they carry you away
Or place you in a padded room
Citing Pretty Polly as your doom
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