Never judge a book by its' cover

One for the kids

He reeked of fish and nastiness
was dishevelled, covered in goo,
spent most of his time perched on a rock
out to sea but just in view.
Sometimes though he would come ashore
and the kids would run and hide,
standing six feet six and as ugly as sin
of him they were terrified.

One day however curious Karl
short sighted to the point of blind,
was dared to talk to the giant stink
in the hope of a name to find.
So when he lumbered onto shore
Karl met him on the sand,
"hello sir I'm pleased to meet"
he said as he offered his hand.

The giant stink stopped in his tracks
gave the boy a quizzical look,
then softly held the offered hand
and very gently shook.
"I'm pleased to meet you too my boy
how are you this fine day,
and what is it that brings you here
to pass across my way"

Upon the prom the hiding kids
all gasped at what they saw,
certain that a grisly end
would come to Karl for sure.
As for many years the giant stink
was an ogre thought to be,
eating uncooked fish for breakfast
then small children for his tea.

But to their stunned amazement
they watched events unfold,
a story that in years to come
would be told and told and told.
The giant stink and curious Karl
conversing on the sand,
greeting like two long lost friends
warmly shaking each other's hand.

"Please tell me if you do not mind
your title or your name,
and if you do I'll tell you what,
I'll do the very same.
In fact I'll tell you my name first
it's Karl, mum calls me "k",
and you can call me that as well
cos we're friends as from today."

The giant stink looked at the boy
he thanked him in his mind,
this simple gesture showing that
goodness still lived in mankind.
A giant tear rolled down his cheek
he gave a giant sniff,
a seagull landed on his head
"A pleasure to meet you "K", I'm cliff"

Author's Note

Be interested to hear what any youngish kids of reviewers think of this,even my 14 year old daughter liked it,amazing!!!!
Name taken from,"what do you call a man with a seagull on his head?"........CLIFF
All of this to get a wee joke in :)

Reviews

[barleygirl]

This is a fun & sassy scenario! Having grown up by a big lake & not too far from the ocean, I have known my share of people (mostly men) who smell like fish permanently! Your rhyme & rhythm work well thru-out & there's a tongue-in-cheek playfulness that only a younger person could fully appreciate. You've included good details of friendship & honesty! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Gee]

Thank you Margie

[barleygirl]

Just had to take another cruise thru & marvel at how light & bouncy your rhyme & rhythm are in this one. LOVE IT! *smile* Hope your holidays are full of love & cheer!

[Gee]

Dug this up and read it to a pals grand kids, they enjoyed, I think.
Holidays for me start on the 21st and end on the 2nd of January, until then it's arse up, head down trying to finish folks homes for crimbo.
Hope you are well and in the holiday spirit.
Thank you for having a second read :))

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Enjoyed this Dahlish piece of imaginative writing spawned from that age old joke Gee.

[Gee]

Cheers John

[matelotrod]

This is a perfect poem, story and rhyme. Everything about it is mind capturing and almost educational,
Thanks for posting it and I will look forward to "Part Two" take care Rod.

[Gee]

Cheers Rod, part two, hmmmmmmmmmm.

[Hairythoughts]

Love it. Would like to see a continuation. Will cliff turn out evil after all!?! ;o

[Gee]

Hmmmmm, thank you

[Poetic Beauty]

Oh I loved this story. The kindnessthis child showed this man was a true blessing. Appearance can be deceiving.

[Gee]

Thank you. Like most of my poems needs a bit of tidying up, it'd s wee bit clumsy in places. One day....

[Poetic Beauty]

I don't look for errors when I read works but rather the subject matter and feeling.

[J.M. Wise]

Great poem! almost seems like a fable, but you had a good flow and much more colorful diction and vocabulary than any fable I ever read. Well done!

[Gee]

Ooops, sorry so late with the thank you

[D Connolly]

This is cool! I love poems like this. To be honest, I prefer a little fun in my reading, and I love a fun poem with a story!

[Gee]

Thank you..

[Lorry]

Superb.. I think we could all do with more reminders that there is kindness out there, somewhere. Looks so effortless, like it all came to you in a constant stream, rather than a line by line struggle. And good on Karl for being too short sighted to make judgements on others. Love it.

[Gee]

I'm glad you enjoyed, thanks

[Lorry]

You're welcome.

[Lorry]

Just stopped by to say it was as good second time around. Hope you are all missing out on the s****y weather....or perhaps not, do builders get snowed off?

[Gee]

Cheers Lorry.
Builders get snowed off, rained off, even sunned off when really hot. They are a bunch of overpaid wimps !!!

[boblakin]

Too often we look but do not see beyond preconception and prejudice. It's the curse of mankind.

Boblakin

[Gee]

Indeed it is,thanks