A is the Alphabet, A at its head ;
A is an Antelope, agile to run.
B is the Baker Boy bringing his bread,
Or black Bear and brown Bear, both begging for bun.
C is a Cornflower come with the corn ;
C is a Cat with a comical look.
D is a dinner which Dahlias adorn ;
D is a Duchess who dines with a Duke.
E is an elegant eloquent Earl ;
E is an Egg whence an Eaglet emerges.
F is a Falcon, with feathers to furl ;
F is a fountain of full foaming surges.
G is the Gander, the Gosling, the Goose ;
G is a Garnet in girdle of gold.
H is a Heartsense, harmonious of hews ;
H is a huge Hammer, heavy to hold.
I is an Idler who idles on ice ;
I am I–who will say I am not I?
J is a Jacinth, a jewel of price ;
J is a Jay, full of joy in July.
K is a King, or a Kaiser still higher ;
K is a kitten, or quaint Kangaroo.
L is a Lute or a lovely-toned Lyre ;
L is a Lily all laden with dew.
M is a Meadow where Meadowsweet blows ;
M is a mountain made dim by a mist.
N is a nut–in a nutshell it grows–
Or a Next full of Nightingales singing–oh list !
O is an Opal, with only one spark ;
O is an Olive, with oil on its skin.
P is a Pony, a pet in a park ;
P is the Point of a Pen or a Pin.
Q is a Quail, quick-chirping at morn ;
Q is a Quince quite ripe and near dropping.
R is a Rose, rosy red on a thorn ;
R is a red-breasted Robin come hopping.
S is a Snow-storm that sweeps o’er the Sea ;
S is the Song that the swift Swallows sing.
T is the Tea-table set out for Tea ;
T is a Tiger with terrible spring.
U, the Umbrella, went up in a shower ;
Or Unit is useful with ten to unite.
V is a Violet veined in the flower ;
V is a Viper of venemous bite.
W stands for the water-bred Whale–
Stands for the wonderful Waxwork so gay.
X, or XX, or XXX, is ale,
Or Policeman X, excercised day after day.
Y is a yellow Yacht, yellow its boat ;
Y is the Yacca, the Yam, or the Yew.
Z is a Zebra, zigzaggèd his coat,
Or Zebu, or Zoöphyte, seen at the Zoo.
Christina Georgina Rossetti
circa 1875