The Llama is a wooly sort of fleecy hairy goat,
With an indolent expression and an undulating throat
Like an unsuccessful literary man.
And I know the place he lives in (or at least— I think I do)
It is Ecuador, Brazil or Chile— possibly Peru;
You must find it in the Atlas if you can.
The Llama of the Pampasses you never should confound
(In spite of a deceptive similarity of sound)
With the Llama who is Lord of Turkestan.
For the former is a beautiful and valuable beast,
But the latter is not lovable nor useful in the least;
And the Ruminant is preferable surely to the Priest
Who battens on the woful superstitions of the East,
The Mongol of the Monastery of Shan.
(Hilaire Belloc)
More Poetry from Hilaire Belloc:
Hilaire Belloc Poems based on Topics: Man, Place, Beauty, Failure- Heroic Poem in Praise of Wine (Hilaire Belloc Poems)
- Lines to a Don (Hilaire Belloc Poems)
- The South Country (Hilaire Belloc Poems)
- Jim (Hilaire Belloc Poems)
- Matilda Who told Lies, and was Burned to Death (Hilaire Belloc Poems)
- To The Balliol Men Still In Africa (Hilaire Belloc Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: Man Poems, Place Poems, Beauty Poems, Failure PoemsBased on Keywords: mongol, preferable, wooly, llama, superstitions, battens, least-, ruminant, similarity, ecuador, turkestan