"It's shocking", the swallows screech.
"Now this scoundrel has enchanted our Susie!"
They speed across the sea-lion pool.
"You should be ashamed", they scold.
"Look, there she is", the wizard soothes.
"It's a swizzle! That's not Susie!"
But it's true. Susie had only been turned into her first letter for a short time.
With a sweep of her tail, she dives into the pool.
"Very slick", she laughs. "I love a joke!"
Now the little pigs have woken up. They squeak:
"We don't believe it! This scoundrel decides to be nice all of a sudden?"
"Watch out – I might decide to magic you too", jokes the magician.
The three black snakes who are the guardians of the zoo hear him. They must protect the little pigs!
"Don't worry, we'll stop him", they hiss. Softly, they come slithering out of the shadows.
One of them winds round the wizard's right arm, so he can't use his magic wand.
The other grabs his left hand, and the third twines round his ankles. He can't do much about it.
"Tell the others that we've caught the old schemer! He won't be snatching anyone else", hiss the snakes.

No magic spell! No terrible crash and flash!
The wizard is silent: he's stuck for now.

To be foiled so close to success! Or maybe not?

Hissing, slithering, sliding snakes
Don't let go for all our sakes!
The wizard's captured at a stroke
These snakes don't understand a joke!

Schwarze Schlangen

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