Advice From a Turtle


As I sat in the class room, (much to my delight!)
I heard a short story I once read at night
to children who listened and giggled with glee
and snuggled up close to their mom. (On her knee!)
A story (with pictures!) of greed and desire
of a throne for a turtle that grew higher and higher.
Of a self-centered ruler who showed much disdain
for his subjects, so loyal, who had nothing to gain
as they obeyed orders and climbed in a stack
on top of,
on top of,
the next turtles back.

Yertle, the turtle, declared himself King
off all he could see. (Yes, of each single thing!)
But he wouldnt quit while he knew there was more
and higher and higher to the heavens hed soar . . .
Till a voice came to Yertle from way down below
from the little guy turtle who felt Yert must know
that stepping on creatures to get your own way
(though fine when youre Yertle) has its own price to pay.
And stepping on others to get to the top
can backfire quickly when someone says,
STOP!
and does something - anything, other than quit,
and give in to the bully.
(Theres no sense in it!)

So Yertles great kingdom was suddenly purged,
when Mack was hastily hit with the urge
to burp. (A burp? A ridiculous thing!
Not so, my child, it oer toppled a King!)
Now sadder but wiser (and back in the mud!)
We think Yertle knows that his plan was a dud.
And a lesson is offered from dear little Mack:
Beware who you stand on when you stand on your stack!
Cuz something may happen to topple your throne,
(You cant always count on a plan of your own.)
if someone is willing to speak out and say,
I dont think its good - going on in this way!
And then simply does something - ( burp, cough or sneeze!)
(but does something -
does something -
anything . . . please!)

Could there be more to this tale than we see?
Can there be a message for you and for me,
if we look at the story and then look inside
to see if a Mack (or a Yertle) may hide?
Are we like the turtles who avoid an attack
by hiding inside of the home on their back?
A turtle is safe and secure from all harm!
(Well, if he cant see it, what cause for alarm?)
Theres more to Seuss choice of a king thats a turtle,
than finding a word that was well rhymed with Yertle!


A warning to give us has good Dr. Seuss,
( a similar task had the old Mother Goose)
to tell a cute tale, thats clever, not gory.
In a way, oh so witty, he tells us a story
that hearkens the children to never
(no, never!)
forget that therere others who need YOUR support.
The small guy,
the small fry,
the one that's too short,
who just wont survive if hes left on his own,
whos in danger of losing his life or his home.

One just has to marvel (in fact, we cant stop!)
at how one simple act towards the one at the top,
can topple a kingdom and quench a desire
to be the top dog,
(or the turtle-ish spire!)
A lesson with humor is now in our hands,
(a lesson whose meaning expands and expands)
to read to our children and hope they will see,
that stepping on others should never ought be
allowed in a world filled with people who say
that caring for others is the most Godly way.
Could it be that a child will show us that truth?
(Which, perhaps, he first heard from the good Doctor Seuss!)




So look at the pond that we find our selves in,
do we try to pretend there is no hint of sin,
as we do unto others - and then simply split -
to avoid the reaction?
(Well, whats wrong with it?)
And what of a world with no voices like Mack,
to say that its hurtful to stand in a stack?
Perhaps Seuss is talking to you and to me,
and telling us just what our actions ought be.
So, learn from this poem? Such a fanciful tale?
Of turtles
and mud
and plans that ought fail?

You see, its insightful,
(though playful its true!)
Remember, dear reader,
someone
might

stack
on
you !






© 1993 Rozie All Rights Reserved