BEASTLY TALES

THE PECCABLE PECCADILLO

We know the difference between a trivial offence,
And a major crime, or an offence immense.
A Peccadillo is a foible, a trespass connivial,
Often, perhaps, when the company’s convivial.
Now, to be Peccable indicates a liability to sin.
Perhaps a Peccable Peccadillo would make one grin.
A misdemeanour, a misdeed, counted as nought,
Not a major felony with consequences fraught.

By way of illustration, let’s consider the following,
Cornish McWallace was like a pig wallowing,
Always dirty, one of the great unwashed,
If he was a beetle, he would have been squashed.
He wasn’t necessarily a thief,
But the tenure of lying about would be brief.
Of anything of value, left out and about.
McWallace had struck again, just no doubt.
So, really, we couldn’t brand McWallace a “Tea Leaf.”
As the Cockneys might have it. We mean a thief.
But, nevertheless, he had an opportunistic bent.
Things were best screwed down, where-ever he went!

Another Peccadillo Tale might involve flirting,
Not as serious as adultery, but still can be hurting.
To play lightly at courtship shows loyalty vanished,
Such an activist should be suitably banished.
But that is precisely what Oscar Crampon did,
Leering at ladies, as though not the full quid.
And all the time he was spoken for,
Penelope Passionflower waited by her door.
If Oscar really loved her, “Je t’adore”
Should have been the catch-call for his “pomme d’amour!”

Impeccable, faultless, the way to go!
Natural inclinations, fast and not slow.
Virtue sincerity, honesty, all that Jazz,
So preferable to the other Razzmatazz.
Don’t be tempted to follow Razzle-dazzle,
Chances are, you’ll be worn to a frazzle.