the centaur led a double life:

two natures in perpetual strife

he had, that never could agree

on what the bill-of-fare should be;

for when the man-half set his heart

on taking dinner à la carte,

the horse was sure to cast his vote

unswervingly for table d'oat.

a pretty sort of life to lead;

the horse in time went off his feed,

the hungry man was nigh demented,

when one day—oatmeal was invented!