LADY OF SHALOTT DAY

All together, which is better, which would you prefer –
the steam-pixie or the real pixie,
the steam-pixie or the real pixie,
the steam-pixie or the real pixie?

The steam-pixie was invented by a man,
pioneered par un homme, who noticed the phenomenon
of steam coming out of a pixie-shaped kettle.
He got all excited, run ululating
round the streets of his locality.
Next morning the patent was pended,
the steam-pixie was reality.

All together, which is better, which would you prefer –
the steam-pixie or the real pixie,
the steam-pixie or the real pixie,
the steam-pixie or the real pixie?

Let’s do a comparison:
the steam-pixie can lift a leaf
as easily as a forklift truck.
It doesn’t waste time, take time out
having a drink out of an acorn-cup
or sloping off to have a dance
around a toadstool with a spotted top.

All together, which is better, which would you prefer –
the steam-pixie or the real pixie,
the steam-pixie or the real pixie,
the steam-pixie or the real pixie?

Here they come converging –
can you hear them in the clearing?
A hundred thousand little pointed shoes;
who do you think’s going to lose –
the steam-pixies or the real pixies,
the steam-pixies or the real pixies,
the steam-pixies or the real pixies?

But if you view the pixie as a long-outmoded institution,
all they’re doing is re-enacting the Industrial Revolution
in pixie form.