[Jayne Osborn]

The thing to decide about griffins is - are they nice or nasty?

Have you looked at the Google images of griffins, John? They look absolutely terrifying... but there were some nice dragons, I believe, so you can't go by appearances alone.

All the same, I'm betting that griffins are mostly nasty creatures, so if you do meet one keep your wits about you.

Jayne

[John Whitworth]

Lindsay's Griffin is nice, Jayne. So is Lewis Carroll's.

[Gail White]

Just since John asked:

When you're introduced to griffins,
Etiquette must be observed,
For they're strong enough to eat you
And they're easily unnerved.

They appreciate a grovel,
They appreciate a gift –
Steaks will be politely eaten,
Roses eloquently sniffed.

Show a deferential bearing,
Just between respect and fear.
If the griffin softly crouches
You may gently scratch its rear.

You may tame it, you may ride it,
You may call it like a bird,
But you may not sell the story –
People won't believe a word.

[Nigel Mace]

Best so far, Gail - in fact, good enough to meet.

[Erik Olson]

The lion glories on ensanguined plains,
Imprints his majesty with easy strains;
Much like the eagle who with piercing eyes,
From crag or castle, cleaves the liquid skies
Swifter than doves can move or darting grouse.

Since royals with royals mix of equal house,
Both natures crossed in chroniclers noble thought
To birth a beast that nature never wrought
Yet droves corroborate from pilgrimages
Whose self between the two supplied the bridges.
Like waves approaching upper, rocky puddles,
Memory merges pools and matter muddles.
.

[Alan Rain]

I peeped through leaves of verdant green,
tiptoed on fairy feet,
praying I wouldn’t once be seen,
chewed into luncheon meat
by foulest creature, fierce and mean.

I’m blowed if I’ll be obsolete,
a heap of guts and spleen.
I prance right up, so indiscreet,
with derring-do my screen.
“How do you do, my dear,” I bleat.

I pray the thing will swoon and preen,
be indisposed to eat;
it speaks: “You’ve brought your Vaseline?”
I gaily send my tweet:
Who’s tweaked the sweetest griffin queen?

[Erik Olson]

For boys and girls fresh out of class,
Relieved to be not in,
Who think a song helps time to pass
And play and myth no sin.
Come these soft lines with nothing stiff in,
With sylvan nymphs, a knight and griffin.
With a fa, la, la.

Throw out gray maps your teachers made;
I know the Middle Ages'
Show highlands' Griffin, seas' mermaid...
Where cherubs kiss the pages.
See lions' brawn and eagles' brow
There joined, but oh don't ask me how.
With a fa, la, la.

What in the class is held in doubt
Helps banish boredom when you're out.
With a fa, la, la.
k