My Mom used to (and still does) recite:

It was springtime in the Rockies,
and the snow was raining fast,
When a barefoot man with clogs on
Came slowly whizzing past.
He turned a straight crooked corner,
And saw a dead donkey die;
He pulled out his pistol to stab it,
And the donkey spat in his eye!

It may have come from the two Leslies (Lesie Sarony and ?? --Help, Roger!) in the thirties, who also did a nonsense alphabet: "A is for 'orses, b for mutton, c for yourself, ..." (say it out loud!)

She'd usually follow it up with something I think must have come from Robb Wilton:

A man said to me "can you dance?"
I said "dance?"
He said "yes"
I said "who?"
He said "you!"
I said "me?"
He said "yes!"
I said "no";
he said "oh".

Say it rapidly for the best effect. I'd love to know the rest of it, if anyone knows it.

Steve

P.S. Yes, "the day war broke out" -- that Robb Wilton!