Author: Walter Crane

---

1

    If all the world were paper,
    And all the sea were ink,
    And all the trees were bread and cheese,
    What should we do for drink?

2

    If all the world were sand--O!
    Oh, then what should we lack--O!
    If, as they say, there were no clay,
    How should we take tobacco?

3

    If all our vessels ran-a,
    If none but had a crack,
    If Spanish apes ate all the grapes,
    How should we do for sack?

---

Type of Poem: Fable

Date Written:

Date Published:

Language: English

Keywords: Public Domain

Source: Public Domain Collection

Publisher:

Rights/Permissions: Public Domain

Comments/Notes: This playful and whimsical poem employs a lighthearted tone and imaginative hypotheticals to question the nature of a world in which everything is not as it seems. The poet's use of absurdity and rhyme creates a delightful rhythm that dances through each stanza, while also inviting readers to reflect on the importance of balance and diversity in nature.

The poem explores themes of scarcity and adaptation; despite the seemingly fantastical scenarios it presents - a world made of paper, a sea of ink, trees of bread and cheese - these images underscore a deeper concern for what happens when resources become unbalanced or unavailable. The poet uses humor and whimsy to highlight this, asking, for instance, how we would drink if the seas were ink.

The repetition of questioning in each stanza also creates a sense of urgency and highlights the fragility of our dependence on nature's equilibrium. The poet's use of concrete, sensory imagery, from the tactile "world were sand" to the gustatory "trees were bread and cheese", immerses readers in these strange, new worlds, further emphasising the impact of these imbalances.

In terms of structure, the poet employs an AABB rhyme scheme, which adds to the poem’s overall playful, rhythmic quality. This simple structure, paired with the use of repetition and rhetorical questions, makes the poem accessible to readers of all ages and backgrounds.

Overall, this poem is an imaginative exploration of our relationship with nature, showing how even the most fantastical changes to our environment can have unexpected and far-reaching consequences.