the critter and the page

a silly little poem, just because

There once was a little critter

The little critter was a little bitter

Because all the other critters had the jitters

And danced and grooved all the night long

While the little critter didn’t even know the song

That the others danced to, hands intertwined

After they’d feasted together and dined

On lavish meats and cheese and fruit

While the horned lizard played the flute

They swooped and spun and danced the jig

And finished the night off with a fancy fig

Bats and monkeys and giraffes and gnats

Spiders and hedgehogs and even the rats

They all got together and laughed and pranced

Back and forth across the marble they danced

All while our little critter

Had to listen to them joke and titter

All alone on his single bed

With a dull ache growing in his head

From all of the laughter and all of the chatter

Growing louder, our little critter growing sadder

The little critter laid down and tried to sleep

On his gray bed, and started to weep

For all of the laughter and all the dances

He’d never get, all of those chances

To make new friends and laugh and sway

What had he done to make them all go away?

He racked his brain and racked his mind

But no wrong could our little critter find

Was he too boring? Too loud? Too bold?

Too warm? Too hot? Too cold?

He rolled over and dried his tears

Wiped his nose and scratched his ears

Picked up the little book on his bedside table

Dropped down into his favorite fable

A world that welcomed him with open arms

No “sorry critter, no room”, no more harms

No dances and no giggles

No friend groups and no niggles

Only the little critter and the page

The tale of a wise wizard and the sage

He closed his eyes and smiled

Pictured lands green and wild

A land in which he was loved and respected

Not ignored or ever dejected

And so our little critter fell asleep, dreaming of love

His mind away from the gray bed, high up above above