Poetry of the Insane
Tantrum Teddy
“I can't do it!” said Tantrum Teddy
Scowling with displeasure.
“I can't do it!” said Tantrum Teddy
Getting madder by the measure.
“Just try to, please,” begged Teddy's mother,
Wishing little Teddy was like his brother.
“Peter did it when he was your age,
Without a tantrum, without a rage.”
“I don't care what Peter did!
I can't do it and I'm not him!!!”
He crossed his arms and stamped his feet
Yelling “No! No! No!” which he'd repeat.
“Look. I'll show you once again,”
His mother said with a forced grin.
“To tie your shoes and do it right,
You grab each string and pull them tight.
You cross the strings and make an ‘X'.
Look closely at what comes next.
You take one string, push it through,
Under the ‘X', that's all you do.
Now we're almost done but we need a bow.
Pay attention while I go slow.
You just make a loop like a bunny's ear,
Then you do the same over here.
Then wrap one ear around the other loop
And come through this tiny hoop.
Pull both ends tight away from center
And a tied shoe will be rendered.”
Teddy meanwhile had stopped complaining.
At his shoes, his eyes were straining.
“Can I try, Mommy, can I please?”
“Of course, honey,” said mom on her knees.
So Teddy took the strings and tried
And shortly his other shoe was tied.
“I can do it Mommy! I tied my shoe!”
“See, Teddy?! There's nothing you can't do!
If you really try and never quit,
You'll eventually get the hang of it.”
“Whatever, Mom. Can I try again?”
“Sure, Teddy. Go ahead!” Mom sighed giving in.
Scowling with displeasure.
“I can't do it!” said Tantrum Teddy
Getting madder by the measure.
“Just try to, please,” begged Teddy's mother,
Wishing little Teddy was like his brother.
“Peter did it when he was your age,
Without a tantrum, without a rage.”
“I don't care what Peter did!
I can't do it and I'm not him!!!”
He crossed his arms and stamped his feet
Yelling “No! No! No!” which he'd repeat.
“Look. I'll show you once again,”
His mother said with a forced grin.
“To tie your shoes and do it right,
You grab each string and pull them tight.
You cross the strings and make an ‘X'.
Look closely at what comes next.
You take one string, push it through,
Under the ‘X', that's all you do.
Now we're almost done but we need a bow.
Pay attention while I go slow.
You just make a loop like a bunny's ear,
Then you do the same over here.
Then wrap one ear around the other loop
And come through this tiny hoop.
Pull both ends tight away from center
And a tied shoe will be rendered.”
Teddy meanwhile had stopped complaining.
At his shoes, his eyes were straining.
“Can I try, Mommy, can I please?”
“Of course, honey,” said mom on her knees.
So Teddy took the strings and tried
And shortly his other shoe was tied.
“I can do it Mommy! I tied my shoe!”
“See, Teddy?! There's nothing you can't do!
If you really try and never quit,
You'll eventually get the hang of it.”
“Whatever, Mom. Can I try again?”
“Sure, Teddy. Go ahead!” Mom sighed giving in.
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Tantrum Teddy
Tantrum Teddy
