The King of Plums by Adrienne Raphel

The King of Plums
Pulls legs off flies,
Sticks them to trees
To teach them to walk.

The King of Plums
Pulls leaves off trees,
Sews them to clovers
To give them luck.

The King of Plums
Pulls stems off clovers,
Feeds them to bees
To tame their stings.

The King of Plums
Pulls wings off bees,
Puts them on garlic
To teach them to fly.

The King of Plums
Pulls heads off garlic,
Puts them on clocks
To teach them to nod.

The King of Plums
Turns red to blue,
Turns blue to red,
Turns red to blue,

The King of Plums
Turns plums to plums.
The King of Plums
Pulls hands off clocks.

The King of Plums
Cuts off your thumbs,
And gives them hands
To teach them to clap

And so they clap
Clap deaf and dumb
Clap your thumbs
For the King of Plums.