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A poem from childhood...

"Long legged Italy, kicked poor Sicily
In the middle of Mediterranean Sea.
Austria was Hungary
Took a bit of Turkey
Fried it in Japan
Dipped it in Greece...."

I remember only this much. This poem was my first attempt at learning the names of these countries and locating them on the map of the world. And I thought Austria and Australia were same. :-)

It's time to confirm that I was wrong at that point of time, some twenty years back...

Comments

Anonymous said…
Long legged Italy,
Kicked poor Sicily,
Right into the Middle,
Of the Mediterranean Sea,
Austria was Hungary,
Took a bit of Turkey,
Dipped it in Greece,
Fried it in Japan,
And ate it off in China.

That was i think CBSE's 2nd or 3rd grade Gulmohar book for English!!
Shazia said…
Hey buddy, I am happy somebody knows this poem. Thanks for writing the complete version. Now there are more reasons for me to say "Exactly-Exactly" :)
Unknown said…
We used this but said 'big footed Italy'
G said…
Exactly. I remember this too. But now the map has changed and it doesn't apply anymore. Italy touches sicily and sicily is not in the middle of the Mediterranean sea!
Unknown said…
Big footed Italy kicked little Sicily right in the middle of the Medertainiun sea
Unknown said…
My Dad taught me this poem when I was about 10 years old, I am now 55 and can still remember the first part.
Unknown said…
I'm English, but I live in France. This just came into my head and I'd like to teach it to my bilingual children.
Unknown said…
HOW ABOUT THIS ONE...
There once was a couple from Bolton,
Who had never been to Little Hulton,
From Breightmet and to Tonge Moor,
Not many places they hadn't toured,
From Southport Beach to Blackpool pier,
Many people would say,"they've been here!"
Time away from home is fun,
Especially when we're in the sun,
Who would have thought the world would change?
Covid 19 has made lives so strange,
But all we can do right now is hope,
And as a nation, continue to cope...
THE END
Unknown said…
HOW ABOUT THIS ONE...
There once was a couple from Bolton,
Who had never been to Little Hulton,
From Breightmet and to Tonge Moor,
Not many places they hadn't toured,
From Southport Beach to Blackpool pier,
Many people would say,"they've been here!"
Time away from home is fun,
Especially when we're in the sun,
Who would have thought the world would change?
Covid 19 has made lives so strange,
But all we can do right now is hope,
And as a nation, continue to cope...
THE END
VS said…
We learnt it as -
Great big Italy
Kicked little Sicily
Into the Mediterranean Sea
Up jumped Austria
And said she was Hungary
Had a little Turkey
Dipped in Greece

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