The Helpless Clam

The fishes they can swim away,

      The lobster he can crawl,

But do you know the mournful clam

      Has no defense at all.

The bird can fly, the cat can scratch,

      The squirrel has his tree;

But O the clam, the mournful clam,

      Is helpless as can be.

He has to stay right in the sand

      And wait the cruel fate

That lifts him from his resting place

      To grace the dinner plate.

O cruel fate that made the fish

      With tail and fins I say,

And gave the poor and helpless clam

      No legs to run away!

Aug. 30, 1904