From a Nonsense Bestiary

#5: The Lamina

The Lamina: a creature queer
Who wears his eyes upon his rear

Looks backward, and, ergo, therein
He sees ahead to where it’s been

So keen a beast behind – although
He’s wholly blind before, and so

Relies on memory to show
Just where it is it’s going to go.


#8: The Dree

The Dree: a creature most absurd
Who isn’t flesh, nor fish, nor bird

Its skin is rough – its trunk is round –
Its feet are buried in the ground

It hasn’t front, it hasn’t hind –
Oh, that’s a tree. Well, never mind.

Daniel Galef

If you have any comments on this poem, Daniel Galef would be pleased to hear from you.