Proverbial Ballade

Fine words won’t turn the icing pink;

A wild rose has no employees;

Who boils his socks will make them shrink;

Who catches cold is sure to sneeze.

Who has two legs must wash two knees;

Who breaks the egg will find the yolk;

Who locks his door will need his keys –

So say I and so say the folk.

You can’t shave with a tiddlywink,

Nor make red wine from garden peas,

Nor show a blindworm how to blink,

Nor teach an old racoon Chinese.

The juiciest orange feels the squeeze;

Who spends his portion will be broke;

Who has no milk can make no cheese –

So say I and so say the folk.

He makes no blot who has no ink,

Nor gathers honey who keeps no bees.

The ship that does not float will sink;

Who’d travel far must cross the seas.

Lone wolves are seldom seen in threes;

A conker ne’er becomes an oak;

Rome wasn’t built by chimpanzees –

So say I and so say the folk.

Envoi

Dear friends! If adages like these

Should seem banal, or just a joke,

Remember fish don’t grow on trees –

So say I and so say the folk.