@1984 BAFFA/SCARFONE This IS a tale? OF DEMOCRACY. A Fable? OF TRUTH And LIBERTY! For under the old, bald cypress tree A story unfolds from History! Once upon a time lived a Princely Frog, Who sat so Regal on a muddy log; Giving Royal orders to one and all, Making everyone jump to his beckon call. He had appeared one day and on a log he sat And with his sticky tongue he soon was fat -- Full of nonsense and selfishness -- The richness of the swamp grew less and less. Though he looked so funny in his bumpy green, And no Golden Crown was ever seen, Resting on top his swarthy head, It wasn't how he looked but what he said: "I'm the King of this swampy land. You must obey all I demand For if you don't, soon you will see, Monsters as large as the cedar trees!" Along came Red Robin with a worm in her mouth "I've not had breakfast!" said the Prince with a shout. Robin dropped her worm and gave him a bow. "How will I feed my children they’re so hungry now?" "You're so smart..." cried Princely Frog, Dining on the worm from his muddy log, . . ."who will guard your children in their lovely nest From the Robin eating Owl with the Golden Crest? For I am the King of this swampy land, From the ceders to the grains of sand, If you don't listen soon you'll see Monsters as large as a walnut tree!" "How can a creature so very, very, small Demand and demand and demand of all. Why can't he ask with a simple please!" Cried the Crested Owl sitting in a tree. "Oh you're so smart..." crooned Princely Frog "...as you sit in safety above the thickening fog. Who will send a warning of the Owl snake, Creeping all around for a dinner you'll make? I'm the King of this here swampy land! Listen to the music of my riveting band: If you don't dance every tune for me A monster will grab you from your oaken tree!" A Rabbit with a sack appeared with a hop. From the Princes mouth the worm did drop. "Why are you interrupting my tasty snack?" Asked Princely Frog as he grabbed for the sack. The Rabbit just bowed and asked with a plea, "Give the sack back its for bunnies three! They’re so hungry, they’re waiting for me Just take a look and you will see!" "You're so smart. . ." cried Princely Frog . . ."hopping all around this swampy bog. Who will keep those bunnies three From the mouths of Red Robins hungry three! For I'm the king of the swampy land, And all I survey I hereby command: If you don't listen to what I say Monsters so tall will come someday..." Then one day across the swamp Sounds appeared "Stomp! Stomp! Stomp!" With out a warning they had arrived: Strange large creatures, each side by side. Everyone that mattered took a look And for a monster they first mistook The two strange creatures towering high Until they heard them talk and cry: "Look! Over there!", one said to the other, . . . "Little Red Robins and their lovely mother! And over there in that high oak tree, Is that a Crested Owl I truly see? And there's a Rabbit over there, I can see him hop White from his toes to his tipity top! But where is the muddy, green swamp frog That likes to sit on the bumpy log?" The animals then thought of a royal plan To rid the Prince from the swampy land. Together they laughed in spirited glee. And to the muddy bog they all did flee. Silently they crept behind the muddy log "Come quick!" they plead, "Sir Princely Frog" Bowing and scraping on bended knees, "Protect us from the monster please. It stands as tall as a walnut tree. Four arms, four legs, four bony knees, Thick black hair grows upon two heads. It asked for you that's what it said." Princely Frog was short of speech Forgetting all that he had preached... "But what would a monster want from me! One as large as a walnut tree? For I am nothing but a tiny frog Who sits alone on a muddy log "What shall I do?". . . he asked the three "Hide me at once, OH! Please! OH! Please!" "But you're the King so Royal brought To the swamp, that's what you taught. A Princely, Royal, Regal, Stately Frog! So get up and off that muddy log!" "But I was playing make-believe Under these sacred cedar trees. Don't let the monster come for me I beg you upon my folded knees!" "So now you beg upon your muddy throne Scared and frightened and all alone You wanna save your bumpy hide? This is something a council decides!" A council was formed that very night And all were present, was a noble sight. The first to speak was Crested Owl, "He was always mean and so darn foul! ...took from us our very best Left nothing else for the rest Commanding, demanding, for his very own, And now he cowers upon his throne." Red Robin then chirped in a stately voice... "I believe we have only one simple choice To end his Princely, Royal Decree A simple, little fellow for all to see!" Then Mr. Rabbit stood up and spoke, "His royal decree we hereby revoke, And leave him to be the green-swamp-frog Who sits alone upon a muddy log." This Is a story That is often told How the animals Grew to be very old So proud and noble In the swampy land With no frogs voice In total command! BACK TO POETRY
@1984 BAFFA/SCARFONE
This
IS a tale?
OF DEMOCRACY.
A Fable?
OF TRUTH
And
LIBERTY!
For under the old, bald cypress tree
A story unfolds from History!
Once upon a time lived a Princely Frog,
Who sat so Regal on a muddy log;
Giving Royal orders to one and all,
Making everyone jump to his beckon call.
He had appeared one day and on a log he sat
And with his sticky tongue he soon was fat --
Full of nonsense and selfishness --
The richness of the swamp grew less and less.
Though he looked so funny in his bumpy green,
And no Golden Crown was ever seen,
Resting on top his swarthy head,
It wasn't how he looked but what he said:
"I'm the King of this swampy land.
You must obey all I demand
For if you don't, soon you will see,
Monsters as large as the cedar trees!"
Along came Red Robin with a worm in her mouth
"I've not had breakfast!" said the Prince with a shout.
Robin dropped her worm and gave him a bow.
"How will I feed my children they’re so hungry now?"
"You're so smart..." cried Princely Frog,
Dining on the worm from his muddy log,
. . ."who will guard your children in their lovely nest
From the Robin eating Owl with the Golden Crest?
For I am the King of this swampy land,
From the ceders to the grains of sand,
If you don't listen soon you'll see
Monsters as large as a walnut tree!"
"How can a creature so very, very, small
Demand and demand and demand of all.
Why can't he ask with a simple please!"
Cried the Crested Owl sitting in a tree.
"Oh you're so smart..." crooned Princely Frog
"...as you sit in safety above the thickening fog.
Who will send a warning of the Owl snake,
Creeping all around for a dinner you'll make?
I'm the King of this here swampy land!
Listen to the music of my riveting band:
If you don't dance every tune for me
A monster will grab you from your oaken tree!"
A Rabbit with a sack appeared with a hop.
From the Princes mouth the worm did drop.
"Why are you interrupting my tasty snack?"
Asked Princely Frog as he grabbed for the sack.
The Rabbit just bowed and asked with a plea,
"Give the sack back its for bunnies three!
They’re so hungry, they’re waiting for me
Just take a look and you will see!"
"You're so smart. . ." cried Princely Frog
. . ."hopping all around this swampy bog.
Who will keep those bunnies three
From the mouths of Red Robins hungry three!
For I'm the king of the swampy land,
And all I survey I hereby command:
If you don't listen to what I say
Monsters so tall will come someday..."
Then one day across the swamp
Sounds appeared "Stomp! Stomp! Stomp!"
With out a warning they had arrived:
Strange large creatures, each side by side.
Everyone that mattered took a look
And for a monster they first mistook
The two strange creatures towering high
Until they heard them talk and cry:
"Look! Over there!", one said to the other,
. . . "Little Red Robins and their lovely mother!
And over there in that high oak tree,
Is that a Crested Owl I truly see?
And there's a Rabbit over there, I can see him hop
White from his toes to his tipity top!
But where is the muddy, green swamp frog
That likes to sit on the bumpy log?"
The animals then thought of a royal plan
To rid the Prince from the swampy land.
Together they laughed in spirited glee.
And to the muddy bog they all did flee.
Silently they crept behind the muddy log
"Come quick!" they plead, "Sir Princely Frog"
Bowing and scraping on bended knees,
"Protect us from the monster please.
It stands as tall as a walnut tree.
Four arms, four legs, four bony knees,
Thick black hair grows upon two heads.
It asked for you that's what it said."
Princely Frog was short of speech
Forgetting all that he had preached...
"But what would a monster want from me!
One as large as a walnut tree?
For I am nothing but a tiny frog
Who sits alone on a muddy log
"What shall I do?". . . he asked the three
"Hide me at once, OH! Please! OH! Please!"
"But you're the King so Royal brought
To the swamp, that's what you taught.
A Princely, Royal, Regal, Stately Frog!
So get up and off that muddy log!"
"But I was playing make-believe
Under these sacred cedar trees.
Don't let the monster come for me
I beg you upon my folded knees!"
"So now you beg upon your muddy throne
Scared and frightened and all alone
You wanna save your bumpy hide?
This is something a council decides!"
A council was formed that very night
And all were present, was a noble sight.
The first to speak was Crested Owl,
"He was always mean and so darn foul!
...took from us our very best
Left nothing else for the rest
Commanding, demanding, for his very own,
And now he cowers upon his throne."
Red Robin then chirped in a stately voice...
"I believe we have only one simple choice
To end his Princely, Royal Decree
A simple, little fellow for all to see!"
Then Mr. Rabbit stood up and spoke,
"His royal decree we hereby revoke,
And leave him to be the green-swamp-frog
Who sits alone upon a muddy log."
Is a story
That is often told
How the animals
Grew to be very old
So proud and noble
In the swampy land
With no frogs voice
In total command!
BACK TO POETRY