The Zax

One day, making tracks
In the prairie of Prax,
Came a North-Going Zax
And a South-Going Zax.
And it happened that both of them came to a place
Where they bumped. There they stood.
Foot to foot. Face to face.
«Look here, now!» the North-Going Zax said, «I say!
You are blocking my path. You are right in my way.
I’m a North-Going Zax and I always go north.
Get out of my way, now, and let me go forth.»
«Who's in whose way?» snapped the South-Going Zax.
«I always go south, making south-going tracks.
So you’re in MY way! And I ask you to move
And let me go south in my south-going groove.
Then the North-Going Zax puffed his chest up with pride.
«I never,» he said, «take a step to one side.
And I’ll prove to you that I won’t change my ways
If I have to keep standing here fifty-nine days!»
«And I’ll prove to YOU,» yelled the South-Going Zax,
«that I can stand here in the Prairie of Prax
For fifty-nine years! For I live by a rule
That I learned as a boy back in South-Going School.
Never budge! That’s my rule. Never budge in the least!
Not an inch to the west! Not an inch to the east!
I’ll stay here, not budging! I can and I will
If it makes you and me and the whole world stand still!»
Well… Of course the world didn’t stand still. The world grew.
In a couple of years, the new highway came through
And they built it right over those two stubborn Zax
And left them there, standing un-budged in their tracks.