FROG AND CATERPILLAR OFF TO THE SIDE
We are now going to revisit a small spot, a small dip in the road, a small vale almost overlooked before traveling on with our four friends: Floppy-eared Boy, Floppy-eared Donkey, Stump Woman, and Sherpherd of the Crook Eye. We will pull back a segment recently appearing on Generation X website, run by Jennifer James in Oklahoma City. The following had appeared, at Jennifer’s request, a little over a week ago:
THE FROG AND THE CATERPILLAR ON THE ROAD
Big Croaker rolled in the last midge of his dinner
For it would soon be time fornight’s rivetting chorale
For, you see, Big Croaker is the new winner
The new top boss of Big Pond morale.
Oh, yes, bow low, all peppers, all thinner
All multitudes, vast crowds, even to SoCal.
Rivetting as his vast band should be,
Big Croaker soon grew boared with so many lowly peeps,
Now Bigg Frog bulged eyes and sprang to tree
Up on the hill above Big Pond, all the better for reaps
Of richer, juicier bugs of the night awaning in lee,
For, you see, Big Croaker would always want more in leaps.
But, wait, halt–what is this little parade below?
What is this man, this donkey, this girl on the road?
What is this parade of the evening on a quest to tow?
What is this parade, of low esteem without Big Toad?
Oh, yes, this parade must have Big Toad leading the row?
How else would any quest be worth the load?
So no Big Croaker hopped with throat blown up,
All ready to lend some glory to man and donkey and girl,
Big Croaker only could give these three the proper shine up,
The proper line up with proper flippings of that tongue in curl,
So bulging were Biggie’s eyes at hopping out,up,out,up,
He never saw Caterpillar dropping from limb to saddle’s burl.
Until little Cattie whispered in his fuzz, “I will go, I will see,”
And then did Big Croaker hop higher, croak louder, blow bigger:
“But I am the leader, I am the Biggie, you fake bee!
“I will lead the quest, I know best, snigger, snigger.”
Then did Little Cattie wriggle and snug, just content to be
Riding on the trip of the ages, not heeding Croaker trigger.
So Big Croakie blew harder and hopped higher
Until little donkey’s hoof did fling him into ditch,
Blinding him with mud and dulling Croaker to Sigher,
For now Croaker was choked with a stitch
Of pain in the throat that once ruled the mire
Of Big Pond, now forgotten in night’s pitch.
Little Cattie snugged in girl’s robe, holding truths under starlight,
“Oh, yes, I hear the song, oh yes, I see the wings.
Oh, yes, I am little, I am only one,I have no might,
But I am riding to Bethlehem with things
No home could make so right,
Riding to Bethlehem held by the mother of God’s son.
NOTE: When our four friends, listed above, continue on their own special road, they will be surprised by the Shrub Girl, who can smell over great distances!
Dec 22, 2011 @ 09:03:02
Sounds like Big Croaker’s got one big head to go along with that big throat of his. Let’s keep on keeping on down the road, Rose!
Dec 23, 2011 @ 06:19:01
Peter, you sure do have Big Croaker’s number! Aren’t you glad we don’t have to continue our journey with that big mouth?
Dec 22, 2011 @ 10:44:20
”No home could make so right, Riding to Bethlehem held by the mother of God’s son.” – amazing amazing line! Thanks for sharing Granbee 🙂 I heart your writings 🙂
Dec 23, 2011 @ 06:21:14
Yes, Joyce, the visual image of the fuzzy little caterpillar tucked in Mary’s cloak, all cozy and comfy, just pictures for me how I want to loved divinely, forever and always! I am so glad you enjoyed that line. Thank you for your gracious feedback here. You KNOW I adore your blog, girl!
Dec 22, 2011 @ 12:26:42
How in the world do you come up with these characters’ names? I struggle with that. One can already tell it’s going bumpety-bump in the story with their names.
Dec 23, 2011 @ 06:25:04
Tots, I am the only granddaughter of the woman of Instant New Languages, as called for, whenever, wherever! She had her own sets of names for EVERYTHING and EVERYBODY –and they fit so much better than any conventional English words could ever hope to do! I suppose it comes to me through the DNA, maybe? I stopped trying to figure this out–I just enjoy the heck of it! MawMaw is laughing from every Pearly Gatepost!
Dec 23, 2011 @ 01:30:11
OH! Wow it just keeps growing and growing and the lessons taught are glowing (oops there goes another rhyme) All human life is hidden on these pages,
I love your idea of re telling all stories of all religions, a huge project but if anyone is up to to doing this my dear friend it is you and I wish you every success. This is just so magical it cannot fail!!
Dec 23, 2011 @ 06:29:42
Oh, willow, how the weary world is starving and thirsting in a desert wasteland absent of all magic! I am so pleased to have your enthusiastic support in this endeavor. I am seeking sincere, humble members of all faiths who are conversant in their own scriptures to consult with me on this project. I am already blessed to have Eastern Orthodox Christians, Jewish folk, Muslim individuals, as well as Hindu, Buddhist, and several subgroups of Native American folk to check things out with, not to mention good libraries and online resources. I believe we all have more in common in our seeking the spiritual walk than we think.
Dec 24, 2011 @ 03:09:18
I should have read this one first before adventures of Shrub Girl (trying to catch up)…but I love Big Croaker and Little Cattie, adorable writing, Rose! xx
Dec 24, 2011 @ 13:56:36
Lauren, I agree with you about Big Croaker and Little Cattie: they are growing on me. Look for more of them in a few months, say around Lent/Easter? Hmm, not to mention jumping up out of that ditch “a new creature” and metamorphosing into a gorgeous caterpillar–actions like that, hmmmm……See how my decades’ worth of “stuff” just will not leave me alone? And I know only too well what you mean by catching up….holiday doings with friends and family and full time writing do have a way of slopping all over the edges of 24 hours of any given day, right?
Dec 25, 2011 @ 06:35:14
Hi Rose, now I am anxious for Easter! Oops, one holiday at a time, slowly, slowly…
but, I am excited to read what comes next! You amaze me! I love “slopping over the edges.” I’m feeling overwhelmed, but in a good way, of course. I just have to move on and catch up later! I have been truly blessed to meet you! Merry Christmas and see you in the new year!
Dec 25, 2011 @ 14:06:39
Lauren, not “oops” but “Hooray, she gets the really BIG point”. You see, such a unique birth by definition MUST make us anxious for Easter. Exactly! Have a wonderfully full and not too exhausting Christmastide and travel over into 2012, Lauren.
Dec 25, 2011 @ 05:13:56
Love the depiction of Big Croaker…glad to hear he and Cattie may be back.
Dec 25, 2011 @ 14:03:58
Bardess, Big Croaker is NOT down for the count! Here’s a hint: a vision of newly floating wings over the young girl’s head topping the far, last crest of hill above Bethlehem has a wonderfully redeeming effect on dazed Big Croaker left in that ditch!
Dec 27, 2011 @ 20:24:01
the reincarnation of Mark Twain or family descendant? love the way you tell a tale (~_~)
Dec 27, 2011 @ 20:27:15
Big Croaker definitely carries some DNA from Calaveras County. But he is not beyond gentling influences. Just wait until he dreams of Monarch Butterfly wings as he lies in that ditch gathering his wits. We have NOT seen the last of him! I must admit, I am enoying my critter friends a great deal!
Dec 30, 2011 @ 10:44:31
A great story inside a great poem. Putting stories and poems together is no simple task, and for that piece of legerdemain, you deserve to dance in the cattails around Croaker’s big pond.
Dec 31, 2011 @ 03:08:52
Thanks so very much, Thomas. Yes, I dance everytime I receive such encouraging feedback from my writer/blogger friends online. I am working so hard to stay inspired and focused on this project. Thank you and bless you in 2012.