The Punishment: A Childrens Poem
Posted: Tuesday, October 14, 2008
by Ben Jones
Too-Write!
The little stick got up and looked around
Still dizzy from its fall
The world now looked so very strange
Out of the tree, the stick felt small
From way up in the branches
The grass had looked so green
Now upon the ground he stood
To realize; it was muddy and unclean
The stick took stock and stood stock still
Then turned round and round and round
And wondered why he'd ever wanted
To leave his cozy twig like town
What to do and where to go
The stick cried out in fright
All alone in the big bad world
With not a friend in sight
In the tree things had been simple
And the stick now wished for home
But it could not climb back up the bark
So like a match; it struck out upon its own
With a final sob and a big deep breath
It put the matter from its mind
And headed down the nearest path
While making record time.
Now Record didn't mind this much
Since he owned the only watch
Besides it gave him lots of time
To sit upon a rock in his Scottish frock
Soon the stick came upon a bend
To find a fork sticking from the path
And wondered why they'd used this thing
When spoons are better by half
With a shrug of his wooden shoulders
The stick stopped pondering the whys
And took the high road on the right
That headed for the skies
But before too long the stick got dizzy
And it's wooden ears began to pop
So rightly it decided to retrace its steps
And back to the fork it hopped
This time down the left most path
The little stick did run
And now that it was exercising
It was starting to have some fun
As he jogged and ran along
He noticed a strange new smell
And turning round another bend
He saw the surf, the sea and swell
In awe he stopped, rooted to the spot
And then he saw high tide
Who sat among the crashing waves
And smoked a funny pipe
Said High tide to our little stick
"Yo dude, how are things today?"
Said little stick in return
"Much better, I really like those waves"
Said High tide again to the stick
"Then why the long, long face?"
Said little stick in return
"For a skinny twig it's common place"
They chatted awhile then said goodbye
And the stick went on his way
And as he trotted through the sand
He saw D and E shells along the bay
As the afternoon began to darken
And night time to approach
The moon rose above the horizon
And the starfish to encroach
Our poor little stick was frightened
For he'd never seen creatures like this
And he bent his stubby legs and huddled
And crouched and prayed and wished
But the starfish didn't hurt him
They'd just come to have a look
At the amazing little walking stick
Who now kneeled and cried and shook
"There, there, little stick", they said
"We are all your friends,
No need to start the water works
Now make the tears all end."
So the stick got up, for he'd realized
That these guys were not so bad
In fact after just two small bites
He knew - they were the best he'd ever had
With new found joy and a big fat tummy
And not a starfish left in sight
The little stick set off again,
To find a place to spend the night
A short ways further down the beach
He found a group of other sticks
All lying comfy close together
In the sand between some bricks
With youthful glee he let out a cry
And charged up to the ledge
And waved to all his new found friends
From that dangerous, narrow edge
And in his happy, joyous mood
He failed to see the rope
That tied together all the sticks
And bound them without hope
Right then a hand on high swooped down
And grabbed him round the middle
And shoved him with the other sticks
So tight he could not wiggle
Now this is where we end our tale
Before the sticks all burn
But hopefully from the things he did
A lesson you will learn
Don't run away from home at all
And don't go eating all your friends
Or you will surely meet your match
And end up burning at the end...
Still dizzy from its fall
The world now looked so very strange
Out of the tree, the stick felt small
From way up in the branches
The grass had looked so green
Now upon the ground he stood
To realize; it was muddy and unclean
The stick took stock and stood stock still
Then turned round and round and round
And wondered why he'd ever wanted
To leave his cozy twig like town
What to do and where to go
The stick cried out in fright
All alone in the big bad world
With not a friend in sight
In the tree things had been simple
And the stick now wished for home
But it could not climb back up the bark
So like a match; it struck out upon its own
With a final sob and a big deep breath
It put the matter from its mind
And headed down the nearest path
While making record time.
Now Record didn't mind this much
Since he owned the only watch
Besides it gave him lots of time
To sit upon a rock in his Scottish frock
Soon the stick came upon a bend
To find a fork sticking from the path
And wondered why they'd used this thing
When spoons are better by half
With a shrug of his wooden shoulders
The stick stopped pondering the whys
And took the high road on the right
That headed for the skies
But before too long the stick got dizzy
And it's wooden ears began to pop
So rightly it decided to retrace its steps
And back to the fork it hopped
This time down the left most path
The little stick did run
And now that it was exercising
It was starting to have some fun
As he jogged and ran along
He noticed a strange new smell
And turning round another bend
He saw the surf, the sea and swell
In awe he stopped, rooted to the spot
And then he saw high tide
Who sat among the crashing waves
And smoked a funny pipe
Said High tide to our little stick
"Yo dude, how are things today?"
Said little stick in return
"Much better, I really like those waves"
Said High tide again to the stick
"Then why the long, long face?"
Said little stick in return
"For a skinny twig it's common place"
They chatted awhile then said goodbye
And the stick went on his way
And as he trotted through the sand
He saw D and E shells along the bay
As the afternoon began to darken
And night time to approach
The moon rose above the horizon
And the starfish to encroach
Our poor little stick was frightened
For he'd never seen creatures like this
And he bent his stubby legs and huddled
And crouched and prayed and wished
But the starfish didn't hurt him
They'd just come to have a look
At the amazing little walking stick
Who now kneeled and cried and shook
"There, there, little stick", they said
"We are all your friends,
No need to start the water works
Now make the tears all end."
So the stick got up, for he'd realized
That these guys were not so bad
In fact after just two small bites
He knew - they were the best he'd ever had
With new found joy and a big fat tummy
And not a starfish left in sight
The little stick set off again,
To find a place to spend the night
A short ways further down the beach
He found a group of other sticks
All lying comfy close together
In the sand between some bricks
With youthful glee he let out a cry
And charged up to the ledge
And waved to all his new found friends
From that dangerous, narrow edge
And in his happy, joyous mood
He failed to see the rope
That tied together all the sticks
And bound them without hope
Right then a hand on high swooped down
And grabbed him round the middle
And shoved him with the other sticks
So tight he could not wiggle
Now this is where we end our tale
Before the sticks all burn
But hopefully from the things he did
A lesson you will learn
Don't run away from home at all
And don't go eating all your friends
Or you will surely meet your match
And end up burning at the end...
This Article has been viewed 2,893 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
More commentsWow, Ben! This is great! I'm in awe at such talent. I didn't want it to end and was happy to continue reading but could tell when it would end. I agree with the moral of this story being 'old school.' It would do well for others like Sandra and Judi will, to share it with children. Thank you!Hi Avis,Thank you for your kind comment about my poem. I had to stop it abrutly to avoid a "sticky ending" (ok that's a really bad pun even for me). :)Have a great day,Ben.
Very nice poem Ben! Keep the good work on...May God bless you...Hi The Candles,Thanks for your comment on my poem.Have a great day,Ben.
Poetry! I didn't think they accepted poetry on searchwarp but clearly they do. However great presentation.RegardsJohnHi John,Yes there's currently 254 poems on SearchWarp and counting. They have an entire subcategory devoted to them, some really great poems in there plus a few of mine. :)Have a great day,Ben.
Hi Ben.I should have known from the title that it wouldn't have a sweet ending. Still, it made a good fable. And if memory serves, they don't always end happily. Did a little one run off recently?DianneHi Dianne,Thanks for your comment on my poem. My son has just started opening doors which prompted visions of my own escapades when I was younger. We still have all that to look forward to.Have a great day,Ben.
Loved it, Ben! Got any more of these? In a collection, maybe?Hi Lorrie,Thanks for your comment on my poem. I do have a few more actually, will have to dust them off at some stage.Have a great day,Ben.
Wow! What an awesome message within a great "poetic whimsical tune," and timely too. Keep creating.Deborah BranchHi Deborah,Thanks for your kind comment and for the encouragement too.Have a great day,Ben.
Quite amazing the tale you are able to tell about just a stick. A simple story, yet one with a few layers. Good write.Hi David,Thanks for your kind words about my little stick friend.Have a great day,Ben.
Ben,You are a great storyteller; and that's why I joined your fan club. can't wait to read more!Thanks for sharing this with us.Hi Ronyae,
Thanks for joining my fan club and of course for your kind review. :)Have a great day,Ben.
Enjoyed your poem very much. I agree with David it is amazing they tale you were able to tell about a stick..Hi Linda,Sorry for the slow response, I didn't see it until now.
Thank you for your kind comment on my poem :)Take care,Ben.
Hi Ben, I think you already know my feelings on this writing. Every time I read it I think it needs to be made into a book for children. All kinds of images fill my head with each read.Thanks Joy! :)I just saw this comment as I was browsing through, I didn't see it originally so sorry for the very tardy response.Hope you are well and your grandkids are keeping you busy and happy!Cheers,Ben.
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