Ogden Nash

The Ostrich

The Ostrich - meaning Summary

Playful Mockery of Awkward Anatomy

Ogden Nash’s short, comic poem describes an ostrich in plain, exaggerated terms. It notes the bird’s wide mouth, narrow neck and long legs, then pivots to a punchline: the speaker is relieved the ostrich sits to lay eggs. The poem lightly mocks the animal’s odd proportions and invites a laugh at the practical implication of its anatomy. The tone is whimsical and observational rather than serious.

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The ostrich roams the great Sahara. Its mouth is wide, its neck is narra. It has such long and lofty legs, I'm glad it sits to lay its eggs.

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