Chipmunks three sat on a tree, + 

And they were as green as green could be; + 

They cracked nuts early, they cracked nuts late, + 

And chirruped and chirruped, and ate and ate; + 

“ ’Tis a pity of chipmunks without nuts, + 

And a gnawing hunger in their guts; + 

But they should be wise like you and me, + 

And color themselves to suit the tree. + 

Ah chee, ah chee, ah chee, ah chee! + 

Gay chaps are we, we chipmunks three!” + 

An elephant white in sorry plight, + 

Hungry and dirty and sad bedight, + 

Straggled one day on the nutting ground; + 

“Lo,” chattered the chipmunks, “our chance is found! + 

Behold the beast’s color; were he as we, + 

Green and sleek and nut-full were he! + 

But the beast is big, and the beast is white, + 

And his skin full of emptiness serves him right! + 

Ah chee, ah chee, ah chee, ah chee! + 

Let us ‘sit on him, sit on him,’ chipmunks three.” + 