Muddle Trouble Over Countries And Flags comical poem 684 by Angela Lansbury

When you travel you stop to sample local food and drink

But the words on the menu make you stop and think

Don't translate nor remember words you learned last year

From some other country which on the map looks near

Don't ask for Greek coffee when you are in Turkey

'though Cypriot coffee might seem all Greek to you

Lebanon and the Saudis serve 'strong coffee' by another name

You have to learn a dozen words, but the coffee's just the same 

If you get in a muddle you get in a lot of trouble

It may help or hinder memory if you start seeing double

But people from one country aren't another, that's not right

They will soon correct you and make sure you see the light

The Scottish are now British but don't call them English

Although they speak English adding words which are Scottish 

People from Canada aren't from the USA

'though travelers (US spelling) worldwide say 'Have a nice day'

People from New Zealand are not from Australia

Both countries flags have a small Union Jack

And a lot of little stars, but Aussies will tell you

The one with the big star's ours.

As for country's capitals, for me they're a mystery

They change names, shift, not the big tourist city

Capitals move when they sink or get too busy

Is South Africa's Pretoria? Yes - but it has three.

-ends-

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