inspired by the quite extraordinary organ of a a hedgehog seen on a David Attenborough video:
A hedgehog, when cursed with insomnia, said, “Dear, poets have sung their encomnia
to food and to sleep,
and the joys of a heap
of dried leaves — but amor vincit omnia.”
It does have to be extraordinary, to surmount all the spines.
His mate responded quite angrily,
in tones both spiky and jangly
“For your information,
I’m in hibernation.
So darling, noli me tangere.”
He then sighed and undid his pyjamas
Saying “dear, for you it’s quite harmless
But the risk that I take
Is really quite great –
Nos morituri te salutamus”
She tearfully took this salute again
And offered a prayer with a mute Amen
“May one night of passion
Not end in this fashion:
My love killed by decus et tutamen”
But this victim’s touch was a sharp caress – it
Pierced her heart with his last address. Hit
By his sharp shaft
She perished. He laughed:
“Nemo me impune lacessit.”