{{Short description|Children's poem by Ogden Nash}} {{italic title}} '''''The Tale of Custard the Dragon''''' is a poem for children written by Ogden Nash.<ref name="The Reading Teacher - volume 26, issue 6, March 1973 - Dragons I have known and loved">{{cite journal|last=Norma J. Livo|author-link=Norma J. Livo|date=March 1973|title=Dragons I have known and loved|journal=The Reading Teacher|volume=26|issue=6|pages=566–571 |issn=0034-0561|jstor=20193291}}</ref> A picture book of the 1936 poem with illustrations by Lynn M. Munsinger was published in 1995.<ref name="Publishers Weekly - The Tale of Custard the Dragon Ogden Nash, Author, Lynn M. Munsinger, Illustrator">{{cite web|url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-316-59880-4|title=The Tale of Custard the Dragon Ogden Nash, Author, Lynn M. Munsinger, Illustrator|publisher=Publishers Weekly|access-date=8 November 2014}}</ref><ref>[https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/30623480 ''The Tale of Custard the Dragon'', 1st edition], at WorldCat</ref>
The poem has been described as "probably his most famous poem for kids".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1774&dat=20020808&id=8OIeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=738EAAAAIBAJ&pg=2146,2629746|title=Selby hosts bash honoring Nash|last=Roland|first=James|date=8 August 2002|work=Sarasota Herald-Tribune|publisher=Halifax Media Group|access-date=8 November 2014}}</ref> In 1959, it inspired Leonard Lipton to write a poem that evolved into the song "Puff, the Magic Dragon".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.songfacts.com/facts/peter-paul-and-mary/puff-the-magic-dragon |title=Puff The Magic Dragon by Peter, Paul and Mary |website=Songfacts |access-date=March 12, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Behind the Hits |first1=Bob |last1=Shannon |first2=John |last2=Javna |publisher=Warner Books |year=1986 |isbn=978-0446389372}}</ref> This poem is written as a ballad which presents a short story with parody.
== Synopsis ==
The poem opens with the introduction of Belinda and her company of pets: Ink (the kitten), Blink (the mouse), Mustard (the dog) and Custard (the cowardly dragon). Everyone is fond of bragging and boasting about their bravery, except Custard. Despite his frightening looks, the dragon cries for a nice safe cage and gets tickled mercilessly. His inmates take it for granted that he is a coward and makes him the butt of ridicule, calling him Percival. The poem has an ironic tone, as the fierce-looking dragon is weak and scared—unlike threatening storybook dragons.
Suddenly, a pirate holding pistols breaks into the house. Panic-stricken, everyone flees except Custard, who chases the pirate and devours him, proving himself the bravest of all. The others now feel obliged to him. Once the danger is over, however, everyone resumes blowing his own horn, while Custard keeps asking for a nice safe cage.<ref>{{Cite book|title=First Flight: Textbook in English for Class X|date=2019|publisher=NCERT|isbn=978-81-7450-658-0|location=New Delhi|pages=129–131|chapter=The Tale of Custard the Dragon|oclc=1144708197|chapter-url=https://nvseng10.weebly.com/uploads/2/4/6/8/24686000/10._the_tale_of_custard.pdf}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Portal |Children's literature}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Tale of Custard the Dragon, The}} Category:1936 poems Category:American poems Category:Children's poems Category:1995 children's books Category:1995 poetry books Category:American picture books Category:American poetry books Category:Children's poetry books Category:Fictional dragons Category:Children's books about dragons Category:Fiction about piracy Category:Puff, the Magic Dragon