Ode to Fouchier on Bird Flu Virus Mutation

[Tony]

He seeks them here
He seeks them there
He seeks those viruses everywhere
Perchance from heaven
Perchance from hell
So elusive like the Pimpernel
Mutating here, mutating there
Bird Flu virions everywhere
Will we be in heaven?
Or will we be in hell?
Poor ole Fouchier cannot tell

Are they living?
Or are they dead?
Do they mutate like Fouchier said?
Perchance from heaven
Perchance from hell
But poor ole Fouchier cannot tell

He seeks them here
He seeks them there
He seeks those viruses in the air
But mutant strains do not compare
With illusory model H5N1
His chance to publish now has come
Will we be in heaven or perchance in hell?
Poor ole Fouchier cannot tell

The Ferrets noses no longer run
Time to deliver now has come
Mutations here, mutations there
Those darned mutations everywhere
Perchance from heaven
Perchance from hell
But poor ole Fouchier cannot tell

He seeks them here
He seeks them there
He seeks mutations everywhere
Appearing in Ferrets
Disappearing in air
He seeks an aerosol in despair
Perchance in the aether
And not from hell
But poor ole Fouchier cannot tell