I have a daughter. Ins’t she cute??? If you disagree, keep that to yourself. Anyway…
She’s almost two now and we read a lot of books. A LOT. All of them, at this age, are structured the same way, rhyming couplets. This is what happens when you’re bored, trying to write, and can’t get Dr. Seuss out of your head…
On a winding lane, beneath a shady tree
Lived a little girl, no more than three.
She played and sang for all to hear
Even the animals came out to cheer.
They called her name and asked to play
Scarlett, please, come make our day
One such morning, the sun bright and shining
A squirrel ran by, and set to climbing.
Hey you, he called, his voice so rough
I bet you can’t climb this tree, it’s tough
Can too, she cried, rising to her feet
She brushed her hands on her legs and seat
With each branch she rose higher and higher
Until her situation became quite dyer.
Through leaves and branch, she climbed too high
That she couldn’t scream for help, just sigh
She clutched the trunk and squeezed on tight
Thinking how to make things right.
Ha ha, the squirrel laughed, you can’t get down
Scarlett thought he might be the worst squirrel in town
Can too, she cried, more bluff than bluster
Even if the height made her quite flustered
I can do it, she said, I can do it, I can
But from the branch to the ground was a very big span
A bird chirped beside her, her voice loud and clear
Don’t listen to him Scarlett, there’s nothing to fear
She took one deep breath and then two,
Soon she was calm and ready to try something new.
She followed the bird down one branch to another
Thinking only to get back to her mother.
Soon she was very close to the ground
And the bird chirped and cooed as it floated around.
Hopping down to the ground, Scarlett squealed and she jumped
I did it, she said, without hurting her rump
the squirrel hopped and he jumped through the tops of the trees
Leaving the neighborhood as quick as you please
The birds flew away, going back to their nests
Reminding Scarlett she was due home for a rest
Back up to the house, she ran through the yard
She didn’t know climbing a tree would be hard
But she’d learned a lesson today, in fact, more than one
Climbing trees could be dangerous, no matter how fun
But also she was strong and had a mind of her own
That her decisions were hers to shape and to hone
And no matter how scared one little girl could be
Fear could be fought with not two breaths but three
You must log in to post a comment.