Anthony's Day Out Poem by Francis Duggan

Anthony's carers were going dancing and one of them asked her man
Will you take care of Anthony for four or five hour span
He's such a dear young fellow and good company for you
And where better place to spend the day than at the Royal Park Zoo.

On the tram into the city the carer's husband see
That Anthony was not the boy he was made out to be
He argued with the conductor 'said he gave back the wrong change'
For boy supposedly so nice his behaviour seemed strange.

And for Anthony's minder 'twas not a pleasant day
The signs on animal cages his charge would not obey
He gave chewing gum to the monkey, bread to the chimpanzee
And the 'do not feed the animals' pretended not to see.

On the tram home in the evening he played up all the way
And the signs in red with 'do not' he chose not to obey
The conductor told him be quiet or off the tram you go
But Anthony asked for reasons for what and for why so?

The carer asked her husband take Anthony with you
He's such a dear young fellow and he'll like it at the zoo
But her husband found out different he did not enjoy his day
And his last time out with Anthony at least that's what he say.