NADIR SHAH

The Mughals were by then a weaker bunch,
Somewhat out to lunch
And heading for their nadir,
When along came Shah Nadir.
On their empire he meant to munch.

He slaughtered every hm and her,
Innocent and defenseless as they were,
The citizens of Delhi.
That's the kind of fellow
That was the Persian Shah Nadir.

PINEY RIDGE TRAIL HIKE

Straightaway, uphill we toiled
As our duds with sweat we soiled,
Eight hikers all fairly hale,
On up the Piney Ridge Trail
Through the mountain laurel.

It's not an easy climb,
Especially in the summer time.
Of such a trail you can be sure
When you hike with T. Upshur,
I'd say, every time.

We hiked along a ridge line,
Which I think was fine
Even though we couldn't see out,
For the laurel blooms were out,
So beautiful in the bright sunshine.

After a few rest stops,
We finally reached the top
Where it was almost cool.
T carried with him a tool,
The stray branches for to lop.

Since no one was badly drooping,
On top we did a bit of looping.
We followed a route worked out by T.
On the Sulfur Spring Trail and A.T.
Then back toward the cars we went trooping.

And I do declare
'Twas all downhill from there.
Downhill is what I'd rather.
As for the weather,
It continued to be fair.

SURPRISING ATTITUDE

Here we have an attitude
That shows a lack of gratitude.
It really is surprising
That they call this advertising.
How can they be so rude?

PARROT PILFERS PASSPORT

Though a passport it needed not,
The parrot liked this one a lot.
It beaked the book with ease
And flew off into the trees,
Leaving its owner on the spot.

DON'T SMILE

For your DL photo don't you smile.
Just be neutral a little while.
The reason that lies this rule beneath
Is that if you show your teeth
A face reader cannot compile.

SATI

Is there any custom so nutty
As that of widow sati,
Which ended a widow's life?
I guess the status of a wife
Was about like that of putty.

Whether he was working or retired,
When an Indian man expired
It was his widow's duty,
Be she homely or a beauty,
To jump on his cremation pyre.

THE RANI OF JHANSI

I won't keep you in the dark
About India's Joan of Arc.
The year was 1857.
She was one more than twice eleven.
And the fighting, it was stark.

Dead was the king of Jhansi.
So it fell to her as Rani.
She took charge of the troops,
And she never let them droop,
For she was a spunky lady.

Being greatly in demand,
Of volunteers she took command.
She died fighting for the cause.
Of her bravery it is because
That she's a heroine throughout her land.

I want you to understand
That on this she had not planned.
But the situation deteriorated
Until to fight she was obligated.
Then the British got the upper hand.