There was an Old Man of Dumbree*,
Who taught little owls to drink tea;
For he said, ‘To eat mice, is not proper or nice’
That amiable man of Dumbree.
-Edward Lear: “More Nonsense, Pictures, Rhymes, Botany, etc.” (1872), ‘Twenty-Six Nonsense Rhymes and Pictures,’ page 227
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*Where is Dumbree? The ‘Dumbree’ in Edward Lear’s nonsense limerick that starts with the first line, “There was an old man of Dumbree” is not a real place, but a fictional one. The closest actual place with a similar-sounding name is the Scottish town of Dumfries; however, it is not known if Mr. Lear had Dumfries in mind when writing his highly imaginative poem.
Who taught little owls to drink tea;
For he said, ‘To eat mice, is not proper or nice’
That amiable man of Dumbree.
-Edward Lear: “More Nonsense, Pictures, Rhymes, Botany, etc.” (1872), ‘Twenty-Six Nonsense Rhymes and Pictures,’ page 227
Continue scrolling down this website page to read the next article, or click or tap on these words to read Owls Gathered By David Hugh Beaumont.
*Where is Dumbree? The ‘Dumbree’ in Edward Lear’s nonsense limerick that starts with the first line, “There was an old man of Dumbree” is not a real place, but a fictional one. The closest actual place with a similar-sounding name is the Scottish town of Dumfries; however, it is not known if Mr. Lear had Dumfries in mind when writing his highly imaginative poem.
