The Beginning of the Armadilloes (Poem by Rudyard Kipling)

The Beginning of the Armadilloes

By Rudyard Kipling

I've never sailed the Amazon,

    I've never reached Brazil;

But the Don and Magdalena,

    They can go there when they will!

         Yes, weekly from Southampton,

         Great steamers, white and gold,

         Go rolling down to Rio

         (Roll down — roll down to Rio!).

         And I'd like to roll to Rio

         Some day before I'm old!

I've never seen a Jaguar,

    Nor yet an Armadill — 

O dilloing in his armour,

    And I s'pose I never will,

         Unless I go to Rio

         These wonders to behold — 

         Roll down — roll down to Rio — 

         Roll really down to Rio!

         Oh, I'd love to roll to Rio

         Some day before I'm old!