Some geese went out a-walking,
To breakfast and to dine;
They craned their necks, and plumed themselves—
They numbered four from nine;
With their cackle, cackle, cackle!
They thought themselves so fine.
A dame went walking by herself,
A very ancient crone;
She said, “I wish that all you geese
Were starved to skin and bone!
Do stop that cackle, cackle, now,
And leave me here alone.”