New Poems for Carnival of the Animals

The Tifereth Israel Community Orchestra performed Saint-saens' Carnival of the Animals on August 10th, 2025, featuring poems by yours truly. Enjoy reading them below!

I don't know, but I've been told,

The mane of a lion is very gold.

They say the males just sit on their duffs,

But of this I've heard 'bout enough.

They really do hunt their prey.

It keeps them alive another day.

Lions have to eat their meat,

Or they'll go down in defeat.

There once was a hen named "Rooster";

There was also a rooster named "Hen."

This caused them both confusion,

And plenty of contusions,

So, farmer spent thousands on therapy for them.

There once was a composer named Honneger;

He definitely was NOT an onager.

While the former, when a teen, might sass,

The latter was an ass which ate grass.

Yet neither ever saw a tanager.

What do tortoises do

When an animal wishes them in a stew?

They've a very hard shell,

Pulling their heads and feet in as well,

Then they play dead for an hour or two,

Fooling both me and you!

What do humans and pachyderms have in common?

On this, have you ever thunk?

After gathering our food, Now, in a great mood,

We both put it in our trunks!

Kangaroos can jump and punch.

This really scares me a bunch.

They I would not insult,

For there would be a great tumult,

But, maybe we could just have lunch!

What is it that makes an aquarium so great?

Oh, it lets you see marvelous creatures from 9 to 8.

Unless you're a scuba diver, you'll never see

These incredible animals that live in the sea.

That is, unless you have the opportunity

To go to the aquarium and pay your fee.

The more you learn 'bout the creatures from the water,

The more you'll protect all, from whale to otter.

Saint Saens named this movement "People with Long ears."

Was he referring to those whom he could cheer?

No, my friend, he was not doing so;

The people were "asses" (the donkey kind), whose intelligence he thought low.

He was referring to the critics,

Who make many musicians mad.

When they say this performance or that composition is bad.

Yet, often the critics know not of what they talk.

They're just selling papers on their block.

The cuckoo isn't really so crazy.

Maybe it's just lazy. It lays its eggs

In other bird's nests

And then it has more time to rest.

Or even go out and pluck a daisy!

Aviaries have lots of flyers;

Some people think they're tasty fryers.

I say: leave the birds alone;

I don't want to hear them moan;

Otherwise, some of us will be criers.

I don't know but I've been told,

To play solo piano, you must be bold.

You really, really can't just fake;

The audience will soon hear all your mistakes.

So, keep practicing daily hours, at least eight,

And maybe one day, you'll be great!

If you want to know T-Rex's story,

There's only one way to get it.

Though Spielberg got the glory,

He only knows a little bit.

The fossils are the ones you must ask,

Though getting to them might be a task.

You'll have a lot of dirt to dig,

You might even sweat like a pig.

But when day is done

You'll have had a lot of fun.

Why am I so very-sad right now?

While all my lovely friends enjoy such mirth?

I'll tell you straight out so that you'll know.

It's be-cause I'm very worried 'bout the earth.

We have destroyed so much habitat.

We have polluted with this and that.

Climate change threatens our planet.

No form of life is exempt.

But not all is lost.

There is still time in our purse;

How can we, where can we,

how will we, where will we, aid,

when will we help with rebirth?

When all is said and done

The orchestra is made ofmany Who play together as one.

The world of life, of plants and animals Is the same, it would seem.

For us all to survive,

We must protect all the members of our team.

So, have lots of fun under the sun,

But do the right thing, or we'll all be done.

-Micah Levy