- Source
- Custard the Dragon
- by Ogden Nash
- pictures by Linell
- Little, Brown: Boston, 1959
- The Story
- In Nash's nonsensical poem, Custard the cowardly, "realio, trulio,
little pet dragon" of Belinda's is rediculed by all the other braver
pets, the yeloow dog, the black kitten and the grey mouse. While others
boasts their courageious deeds, Custard only cries for "a nice safe
cage." But when the little house is attacked by a pirate, Custard is the
only one that confronts him. He gobbles the pirate down -- every bit.
However, after being saved by Custard, the other pets still claim to be
braver than him and Custard himself admits to be a coward still and cries
again for his "nice safe cage."
- Comments
- The dragon character is not only reduced to the statue of a "little
pet", it is brought even lower: inferior to common household pets. The
only remaining trait of a dragon for Custard is when he gobbles down the
pirate whole.
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Introduction/Index