“Why?” [poem for children, by Eva Oakley]

[Editor: This poem for children, by Eva Oakley, was published in Willie Wagtail, Two Little Romances and Other Verses (1945).]

“Why?”

“Why do they call you ‘Wagtail,” Bill?”
Both Rob and Spadgie said;
Then Willie Wagtail was annoyed,
And tossed his little head.
“I’m not the only Wagtail here,”
He said, “I’ll have you know;
You wag your tails, and so does Pom;
I’ve seen you doing so;
But, if the people like to say,
That is my special name,
It simply does not matter why,
Nor how, nor whence, it came.”
“We’re sorry we’ve offended you,”
The other birdies said!
‘“Oh, no offence!” said Bill; “’Tis late;
We’d better go to bed.”
So, in amongst the leaves of trees,
They tucked their heads in, soon,
Beneath their wings, while stars shone bright,
And, silver, beamed the moon,
“GOOD-NIGHT!”