Leopold McDougal was a very silly boy.
He flittered. He fluttered. He bounded with joy.
His walk was chaotic; his pace ever a jumble.
Bouncing about, he so loved to tumble.
Laughing and ambling along, not a care brought him down.
He giggled. He gaggled. He chuckled in town.
Skipping and skirting the sidewalk, he headed for home.
His rhythm uneven, not like a metronome.
Leo’s mom stood astonished at his wonderful walk.
She chitted. She chattered. She made with small-talk.
Bragging of all his antics, her boy could do no wrong.
With no thought for anyone, he frolicked along.
“Leo, what makes you so jumpy when you’re full of glee?
Happy-go-lucky—you make my heart carefree.
Lil’ Leo, your antics amaze me. I’m filled with delights.
So, show me more cartwheels. You’ll soar to new heights.
Little Leo performed rounders and cartwheels galore.
His buddies squealed and laughed, begging for more.
“Your expression ever jolly, your manner so keen.
Why, Leo, we just can’t image you mean.”
His simple reply—“Always so happy, I’m full of good cheer.
Eating my pretzels and drinking my root beer.
My famous bounding and bouncing, it keeps me on track.
I’m ever light-hearted. No things do I lack.”
One day, Leo McDougal’s bounding took him too high.
So the sad story goes, “His walk went awry.”
The last time he hurdled from sight, his form but a speck.
Leo’s skyward journey would be his last trek.
So, remember this lesson from Leo McDougal.
His walk was off-center, not happy but dismal.
While it’s noble to be carefree and happy in life,
Please, please heed this advice and limit your strife.
So, let’s bound and rebound with joy in our hearts.
Hold fast to the Word, walk straight on the path.
Climb high to the sky, with faith as your guide. Let God be your anchor—in Him you’ll abide.
Read more articles by Marty Wellington or search for articles on the same topic or others.
This was very cute! A great poem fo kids with a good message. I can see by the topic you probably wanted to enter this in the challenge, but were too late. Me too! That's too bad because this is really good!
Maybe next week!
Kristin
Marty, I am so sorry you missed getting this into the Challenge. I don't think you'll be alone this week (I already know of one other). This was a delightful children's poem, full of fun and with a good silly feel to it. You managed to fit in a nice moral at the end as well, which was good too. The only critique I'd make is that although you got the rhyming right, the rhythm and flow is a bit out--the meter. Although it isn't always a problem in every form of poem, it is for the style of poem you wrote. The reader gets into a particular rhythm and flow with the words, but then if the next line doesn't quite follow that rhythm, it will throw them out. With a bit of editing to tighten things up, this would be an even greater delight than it already was for the story alone. Be encouraged. Love, Deb (Challenge Coordinator)
