Written for Davidβs Weaβve Written Weekly.
Our PoW this week is Deanna who asks us to
incorporate a nursery rhyme character into
our poem. Hereβs where the prompt took me.
Tag: Nursery Rhymes
AN UNLIKELY HERO
Sadje has asked us “What do you see?”

Fantasy Land, May 2, 1865 β
The day started out as any ordinary sunny spring day in Fantasy Land but by noon the town was in a frenzy for the news was out that 9 year old Mary Andrews had lost her lamb, Snowflake. Mary had Snowflake for only a few months but they had become attached to each other immediately, so much so that he followed her to school every day, even though Mary knew it was against the rules.
Teacher Sarah Johnson had this to say: βMaryβs such a lovely girl and Snowflake is so sweet with his fleece as white as snow. I didnβt mind the fact that the lamb followed Mary to school because she always tied him to a nearby tree but today for some reason he followed her right into the classroom. As you can imagine all the children wanted to do was laugh and play.β
Pressed for more information, Miss Johnson went on to say that she took Snowflake outside herself and tied him to the tree but when the children went out to play, the lamb was nowhere in sight.
The three blind mice who live across the road from the school became rather indignant when questioned about the incident.Β βOf course we didnβt see anything, you fool! We’re blind as bats! But we did hear some strange noises near the tree shortly before the children came outside.β When asked to described the noises one mouse saidΒ βIt sounded like pulling or tuggingβΒ while another thought it was more like a snapping sound. The third mouse added βThere was definitely a scuffle of some sort. Poor little Snowflake.β
Maryβs parents, Abigail and Wyatt Andrews, rushed to the school to console their daughter. Mr. Andrews was visibly upset to learn that the teacher had taken Snowflake away from Mary.Β βShe had no right touching that lamb. Sheβs a school teacher, not a farmer and has no idea how to tie a proper knot. She should have asked Mary to tie Snowflake to the tree like she always does.β
Moments later Little Bo-Peep arrived on the scene and was asked her opinion on the incident. βWell, Iβve been a shepherdess for a long time now and if thereβs one thing I know itβs this: If you leave them alone theyβll come home wagging their tails behind them.β
By mid-afternoon all the townβs residents had gathered at the school and formed search parties to look for Snowflake. Even Humpty Dumpty was there, sad and terribly broken up. In all my years as a reporter Iβve never seen such an outpouring of support.
A new development as Hansel and Gretel just arrived at the school.Β βWait! We think we can help!βΒ they cried and tearfully reminded those of us still at the school of their traumatic encounter with the evil witch who held them captive in her gingerbread house. βWe all know how much Snowflake loves to eat wildflowersβΒ Hansel said. Gretel added βThe witch has flowers growing all around her house. If she get’s Snowflake to follow her there, the poor little guy wonβt stand a chance.β
With great trepidation we entered the forest and came upon the witchβs house. There she was, gnarled and bent over, dragging a bleating Snowflake behind her. βSTOP!!β the witch shrieked, βIβll kill him right before your eyes!β Suddenly, Humpty Dumpty appeared out of nowhere and ran up to Snowflake, freeing him from the witchβs clutches. Snatching Humpty, the witch cackledΒ βFine! Take your precious lamb! I don’t need him. Iβll feast on scrambled eggs all week!β and she disappeared into the dark forest with Humpty.
What an act of bravery exhibited by Humpty Dumpty! He was indeed a good egg.Β
NAR Β© 2023

GOO GOO G’JOOB
Today is my birthday so I decided to give myself a gift
by posting one of my favorite stories from 2018,
my personal little twist on an old beloved nursery rhyme.
It always makes me chuckle. I hope it does the same for you.

May 4, 2000
TO: Mr. Al Bumen, Homeowners Association
FROM: Humpty Dumpty
Dear Mr. Bumen
It is with eggstream distress that I find myself writing to you once again.
Apparently the situation regarding the eggceedingly narrow wall upon which I often enjoy sitting has gone unaddressed as I have once again eggsperienced a great fall resulting in eggcruciating injuries.
Usually my mishaps leave me slightly scrambled with a few minor cracks. However, in this most recent fall, all the kings horses and all the kings men were unable to put me back together again.
As a result, I now find myself an impatient patient in Eggcelsior Hospital, completely covered in horrendous cracks .. some so deep that my yolk is eggscaping like yellow matter custard dripping from a dead dog’s eye. Do you not understand the severity of this situation? I am the Egg Man, goo goo g’joob!
The doctors have informed me that once I am healed I am to be hard boiled in an effort to protect my eggsterior shell should such a great fall happen again. This is no yolking matter as I have heard that hard-boiling is quite painful and there are no guarantees that the procedure will be successful.
In the meantime, I am being coddled in my hospital bed, sharing a room with a severely burned slab of bacon whose incessant sizzling keeps me awake all night.
Getting out of bed requires a gentle over easy roll maneuver with the assistance of the eggspert nurses on staff, but it is very embarrassing as the hospital gowns leave one quite eggsposed.
I’m trying to keep my sunny side up but unless the wall is widened, I’m afraid I have no recourse but to bring this situation to the attention of my attorneys Benedict, Deviled, Florentine and Poached. I assure you I will be doing a slow soft boil until I hear from you regarding this eggstremely urgent matter.
May 6, 2000
TO: Mr. Dumpty
FROM: Mr. Al Bumen, Homeowners Association
Dear Mr. Dumpty:
As you are aware, we recently had an issue with a maid who was in the garden hanging clothes when along came a blackbird and snipped off her nose. Wall sitting and clothes hanging are strictly forbidden, according to the Homeowners Policy. While we sympathize with your plight, the wall will remain unchanged. We suggest you try sitting on a cornflake instead.
NAR Β© 2023
Originally published 2018