Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Embarrassed (07/19/07)
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TITLE: Muddy Innocence | Previous Challenge Entry
By Elizabeth Baize
07/24/07 -
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And all was in a tizzy,
‘Cause Mama was a cleanin’ house
And listen, she was busy!
Our Granny was arrivin’
And was goin’ to stay a week.
When Mama heard this bit of news
She took off like a streak.
First with a broom, and then a mop
She scoured all the floors.
She dusted everything in sight
And even polished doors.
She said to me and Jimmy,
“Children, go and play outside.
I’m sure there’s something just out back
To keep you occupied.”
We wandered out into the field
In search of something fun,
And found the perfect thing to do
Beneath a summer sun!
I guess I have to stop and say
That Jimmy saw it first –
A wondrous patch of soft black mud, –
And soon we were immersed.
Deliciously it oozed and squished
Around my laughing toes.
I think they thought that this was IT
As far as comfort goes.
For oh, this mud was smooth and thick
Like icing on a cake.
To bad I couldn’t eat it;
But a mud pie I could make!
I stretched my fingers down to meet
The chocolate-colored matter
And gently placed it on the grass
So that it would not splatter.
This really was the cleanest mud
That I had ever seen.
But then again I’m no expert
On what they call “hygiene.”
While I was workin’ on my pie
My brother had the thought
To play the part of some great fish –
But join him I would not.
“It looked like he was tryin’ to swim
In melted Hershey kisses.
“Hey Jim,” I called, “You know that mud
Is not a home for fishes!”
C’mon,” he yelled, “it’s really fun!
You out to dive in too!”
“I’ll wade,” I answered back to him,
“But not just now, thank you.”
Just then we heard a motor’s purr
And then a car door slam.
“Oh, Jimmy, I am pretty sure
That that is prob’ly Gram!”
Forgotten was my perfect pie;
I raced Jim to the house.
I also did not waste a tear
For mud spots on my blouse.
Jim grabbed the doorknob with his hand
And yanked it ‘til it opened.
We sped across the shining tiles
That Mama had just whitened.
And there was Granny with a smile;
Her arms were opened wide.
We flew at her in unison –
Our Mama horrified.
Yes, Mama turned almost as white
As her own sparkling floor;
But then her face became as red
As the bright shirt she wore.
At first she stared at Jim and me;
Then at the muddy tracks
That zigzagged through our spotless home
Like ancient artifacts.
But when she saw our Granny’s dress
Our Mama finally spoke,
“Why children! What is going on?
This really is no joke!”
“And Mother,” she then turned to Gran,
“What can I say to do?
I’m so embarrassed, but I must
Do something with these two.”
Our Granny didn’t seem to mind;
She even hosed us down.
While Mama brought us some fresh clothes
That were not colored brown.
You know, I guess our Mama
Was embarrassed ‘cause of us.
But honest, we weren’t a tryin’
To be bad or cause a fuss.
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I'd have left it with the children embracing the Grandmother and the mother's face, but that's just me. Now excuse me, I have to go and wipe some mud marks away...!
Great job on the poem. A very fun and entertaining read.
Thanks for sharing this.
Safe journey - Loren