Even educated fleas do it !

When the little bluebird
Who has never said a word
Starts to sing “Spring, spring”

When the little bluebell
At the bottom of the dell
Starts to ring, ding ding

When the little blue clerk
In the middle of his work
Starts a tune to the moon up above

It is nature, that’s all
Simply telling us to fall in love

And that’s why birds do it, bees do it
Even educated fleas do it
Let’s do it, let’s fall in love

In Spain the best upper sets do it
Lithuanians and Letts do it
Let’s do it, let’s fall in love

The Dutch in old Amsterdam do it
Not to mention the Finns

Folks in Siam do it–
Think of Siamese twins.

Some Argentines, without means, do it
People say in Boston even beans do it
Let’s do it, let’s fall in love

Romantic sponges, they say, do it
Oysters down in Oyster Bay do it
Let’s do it, let’s fall in love

Cold Cape Cod clams, ‘gainst their wish, do it
Even lazy jellyfish do it
Let’s do it, let’s fall in love

Electric eels, I might add, do it,
Though it shocks ’em, I know,
Why ask if shad do it?

Waiter, bring me shad roe!
In shallow shoals, English soles do it

Goldfish in the privacy of bowls do it
Let’s do it, let’s fall in love

Mosquitos, heaven forbid, do it
So does every katydid do it
Let’s do it, let’s fall in love

Dragonflies in the reeds do it
Sentimental centipedes do it
Let’s do it, let’s fall in love

The most refined ladybugs do it
When a gentleman calls

Moths in your rugs do it
What’s the use of moth balls?

The locusts up in the trees do it
Even over-educated fleas do it
Let’s do it, let’s fall in love

The chimpanzees in the zoo do it
Some courageous kangaroos do it
Let’s do it, let’s fall in love

I’m sure giraffes on the sly do it
Heavy hippopotami do it
Let’s do it, let’s fall in love

Sloths who hang down from the twigs do it
Though the effort is great

Sweet guinea pigs do it–
Buy a couple and wait!

The world admits bears in pits do it
Even Pekingeses in the Ritz do it
Let’s do it, let’s fall in loveⁱ

If these baboons at the Zurich Zoo aren’t in love, I don’t know who is.

Yogis will note that our fellow primates here are pretty damn adept at happy baby (ananda balasana) pose !

___ ___ ___

1. Lyrics by Cole Porter, à qui je dis merci !↩