Refurbished Nursery Rhymes: Old Mother Hubbard, a Cautionary Tale

When Old Mother Hubbard
Examined her cupboard
And found not a scrap there to munch on,
Not one morsel that clung
To an ort or a crumb,
She felt foolish and dumb
And stood sucking her thumb
While her dog, Butch, got nothing for luncheon.
"She forgot to go shopping again," grumbled he.
She just scratched his ears sighing,
"Sorry, pal. C'est la vie."
When pangs of hunger are felt,
Humans tighten their belt,
But poor Butch started howling
As his stomach was growling,
For a mastiff has needs to be regularly fed.
So…since there was no baloney…
And…since she was nice and bony…
Mother Hubbard wound up on the menu instead.

This tale has a moral,
As some nursery rhymes do,
And this one's a little bit gruesome, it's true:
A pet owner's job's
To protect not neglect him,
So feed yours each mealtime,
For if too long overdue,
Your "Butch" might be inclined
To make a meal out of you.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2024

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Fisher Avatar
January 26, 2024 at 5:06 PM
This is quite a tale(tail), and I think amusingly done; of course with a twist. Poetic license!
Slaughter Avatar
January 27, 2024 at 9:38 AM
Thanks, David. I try to use it sparingly.
Davison Avatar
January 26, 2024 at 4:05 PM
Sadly topical, particularly as puppies bought for companionship during periods of lockdown, have larger appetites and greater needs in general as they mature. The treatment of some breeds now formally recognised as dangerous to humans has also generated legislation making their ownership substantially more onerous.
Slaughter Avatar
January 27, 2024 at 9:38 AM
Thanks, John, and very true. Too many people don't think of the expense of keeping a pet...sadly for too many pets.
One Avatar
January 26, 2024 at 11:42 AM
There are some bad pet owners there.. I have few stories, but will not share here... You wrote an excellent parody.. Poor Butch!
Slaughter Avatar
January 27, 2024 at 9:36 AM
Thanks, S O.
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