Consider the Plight of Platypus

Consider the Plight of Platypus

Gay, lesbian, or transsexual

I find labels ineffectual

I don’t understand all of the fuss

Consider the plight of the platypus

Is it a mammal or otherwise

Who knows where the real truth lies

If it’s a mammal how does it lay eggs

Why is it said to have “otter legs”

And a beaver tail and bill of a duck

Getting its food from riverbed muck

It seems sometimes the gods are cruel.

Then there’s the problem of the plural

What if under the Australian sun

You should happen on more than one

Do you shout “look and see

There is some platypussy”

If that’s not right I’m not to blame

Perhaps the plural is some other name

Maybe you should point and cry

“Look over there are some platypusi

Some mammals think them strange

And to them say “why don’t you change”

But platy smiles and says “What the fuss”

I am what I am a duck-bill platypus”

“Oh, I know you think us mischievous

Just because we are polygamous

Electroreception makes us only unique

And not some kind of nature freak”

“I know you may think me strange

But I see no need to change

Just because I’m not like you

Doesn’t mean I’m not a mammal too”

So if you’re not exactly the norm

Hang in there and weather the storm

Even if at you someone may cuss

Just consider the plight of the poor platypus

- JGM 10/20/16