RATS!

Evening Star, Issue 24292, 5 September 1942, Page 3

RATS!

(Written by “ X.Y.,” for the ‘ Evening Star.’) “ Dr Goebbels has arrived in Venice.” (Cable). Through the noise of cosmic din Comes this simple bulletin; Take or leave it as you choose; Here is interesting news. Wo are told that Josef Paul Is in Venice. That is all. Did he take the trip per plane, Ship, or motor car, or train? Did ho suddenly appear With some stalwart gondolier, Flitting o’er the calm lagoon, Under the romantic moon? Possibly the Doctor sought Space and time for quiet thought, Opportunity to brood In ascetic solitude, Floating down those silent streams, Lost in propaganda dreams. Or did he (I wonder, now) Take his Kinder and his Frau, Buxom Magda (Mrs G.), Sitting sylph-like on his knee ; Til!—for ‘him—the pleasure trip's Like an annular eclipse? Does the Lido see him stand Bare and twisted on the sand. Or, inert and comatose, In a horizontal pose, Lying still—though minus speech, Simply lying—on the beach? Has a Nemesis unkind Made the poor Venetian blind? If lie still can use his eyes, He will stare in shocked surprise At this rat-like animal Floating down the Gram? Canal. Ancient city, have a care! Rats are vermin everywhere. Italy was once your homo; Now. alas! the rats are come, Nibbling, gnawing, breeding fast; They will eat you up at last. Goebbels comes to Venice—well, If Venetian folk could tell Bad from good and foe from friend, They would quickly make an end Of this noisome little beast— Rats are best when they’re deceased!