The Word Cloud

‘Tony the Turtle’ was the title of a nonsense poem that I learnt by heart in 1971.

Last night, I quoted bits of it on Tony the Cloud’s birthday blog, ‘Sealing Wax’. I could only remember fragments (impressive in itself, given the time lag!), but not even the author came to mind; I went to sleep on it.

In the night, more fragments came back, but not enough. I thought I had the author’s name too, but it’s not quite right yet.

Can anyone please help me retrieve the lost poem? I’d love to read it again.

These are clues to what I know / remember / think I’ve reconstructed:

I found it originally in a book of nonsense verse which also contained poems by Edward Lear and Hilaire Belloc. It was pre-1971.

There were about six verses of four lines each. Each verse started with ‘Tony was a turtle …’ It had a lovely, easy rhythm in A,A,B,A form with the B line having it’s own embedded rhyme.

Here’s one verse:

Tony was a turtle who thought before he fed

Of other people’s wishes, and as he ate them said,

‘If I seem a little grumpy, it’s not that you are lumpy.’

For Tony was a Turtle, delicately bred.

And here’s another:

Tony was a turtle, sensitive to praise,

Anxious and obliging, da-de-da-de-da.

To hint that he was snappy made him thoroughly unhappy,

For Tony was a turtle with most engaging ways.

Neither of these were the first verse nor the last (well, maybe one was the last).

The author was someone I’d never heard of before (or since) and so isn’t a household name. Not in my household, anyway.

Yesterday, I thought it was Rene Villarmot or something like that. Google didn’t throw up anything useful, except feeding tips for turtles.

In the night, I changed my mind and thought the poet’s name was Andre Guillemot/Guillemaud …

A google shows that he’s on facebook (not him then) or was a Breton nationalist (probably not him).

Therefore, I’m stumped.

I know that I did find mention of the poem on the internet a few years ago, but you had to pay to read it all, so I deferred. Now I can’t even find that reference.

Any knowledgeable poets out there who can assist in solving the mystery of the missing turtle?

Much appreciated if you can help me find him.

Whisks

I've found a webpage on the Chelonian Research Foundation dedicated to Turtle Poetry. There's a thing.
But no mention of Tony. Is he extinct already? Sniff.

Still no luck anywhere, but inspiration will surely strike some Cloudie soon.

Meanwhile:

Tony was a turtle
who made Cloud
Members hurtle
to web and book
but still no luck...

Ah, crackin' Jill.

But clever Aonghus has cleverly tracked it down! He found it as a song by Ernest Austin, but I was sure he wasn't the author or the words - so I googled Ernest Austin and found mention of a lyricist called E.V. Rieu.
Yes! That's HIM!
I also note that Ernest Austin was the last man to be hanged for murder in Canada. Oh dearie me.

Anyways, I still think there were more verses, but for the sake of completing this thread, here's what clever Aonghus turned up:

TONY THE TURTLE

Tony was a Turtle,
Very much at ease,
Swimming in the sunshine
Through the summer seas,
And feeding on the fishes
Irrespective of their wishes,
With a "By your leave" and "Thank you"
And a gentlemanly squeeze.

Tony was a Turtle
Who loved a civil phrase:
Anxious and obliging,
Sensitive to praise.
And to hint that he was snappy
Made him thoroughly unhappy;
For Tony was a Turtle
With most engaging ways.

Tony was a Turtle
Who thought, before he fed,
of other people's comfort,
And as he ate them said:
"If I seem a little grumpy,
It is not that you are lumpy."
For Tony was a Turtle
Delicately bred.

A Gift to you for providing stimulating and fun research. (I'm still avoiding the ironing!) Found this, also by E V Rieu: Said the Shark to the Flying Fish over the phone: "Will you join me tonight? I am dining alone. Let me order a nice little dinner for two! And come as you are, in your shimmering blue." Said the Flying Fish: "Fancy remembering me, And the dress that I wore at the Porpoises' tea!" "How could I forget?" said the Shark in his guile: "I expect you at eight!" and rang off with a smile. She powdered her nose; she has put on her things; She is off with one flap of ler luminous wings. O little one, lovely, light-hearted and vain, The Moon will not shine on your beauty again.

Cloud has gobbled up spacing again!

Splendid detective work by Aonghus and partial recall by Whisks. A fine outcome. .I do like the flying fish one, too, Jill. Like you, I was inspired to pen a few lines myself, which can be seen on the other blog where Aonghus first posted his discovery. You can see it here:

http://writing-community.writersworkshop.co.uk/members/profile/104/blog-view/blog_4837.html

I hope you're going to learn the Shark and the Flying Fish as well, Whisks, to add to your repertoire.

Clever Aonghus. Clever Tony too - have had a peak at your rhyme on other thread and love it!

Sorry, that should have been 'peek' of course, but I'm sure your writing will reach high peaks!

The Shark and the Flying Fish will take my repertoire to a whole new level, Tony, as will your extra verses. They're my kinda pomes :)