Dr. Seuss With The Gloves Off

an anti-war poem in the style of the great DR. Seuss

They dropped all their bombs,

They did they did they did

And then they went home and lied to their kids

 

But deep inside, Johnny and Suzy knew

Daddies’ bombs had just turned

A school into goo.

 

But Johnny and Suzy were wise

And they knew

Daddy was just doing his awful duty, too.

 

It was Georgie and Tony

And Saddam the fool,

And Osama and Kim Jong,

And the Taliban too,

It was the old guard

That told daddy what to do,

 

So they hid their fears

And cuddled their kitty

Named Boo

That they’d found on the day

That they went to the zoo

 

And they prayed and they prayed

Cuz it was all they could do

And they hid in their beds

But deep inside they knew

That their leader was wrong,

And nothing could they do.

 

 

Then they thought of the movie they’d seen

On that day at the zoo

With Mommy and Daddy

And Tiny Tim too,

 

And they remembered to pray

For peace everyday

And an end to the bad men

That keep Daddy away

 

Just then a voice from that movie

Told them what to do

And they ran downstairs, and called out,

“YOOHOO!!! “YOOHOO!!! “YOOHOO!!!

Come Mommy and Daddy and Tiny Tim too!!

We’ll tell you, because we know,

We know what to do!!!!

 

And as the family gathered around

To see what was the matter,

With a ruckus and a muckus

And a really big clatter,

They declared, “We know what to do!!!

And it’s easy too!!”

 

“We’ll be like Tiny Tim,

We won’t fuss or fight

No more will our bombers

Take flight late at night,

We’ll offer love, and peace

And understanding tonight,

And so we say, to you all, with all of our might

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a goodnight.”

 

 

 

Author's Note

i don't recall when i wrote this old buzzard of a poem, a number of Christmas eves ago certainly, and I have mixed feelings about it, as does my wife, but i'd love some comments on it!

Reviews

[Mari K]

I like this a lot. The answer is so simple yet greed for power, money, and control prevents so many from compromise and peace. Great job and its cool that you referenced Dr. Seuss not only in the title, but throughout the piece we hear echoes of his style.

[daninstockholm]

Thank you, Mari! i am pleased, if i may say so, with this one. I've always loved Dr. Seuss. I read everything of his i could find as a kid and was happy to come up with this in his style.

[katie]

Pretty powerful! War is ugly but you approached it from almost a silly perspective. Really well written.

[Eliot Knight]

hahaha I can't believe you actually made me enjoy a poem about a serious matter such as war. Playfully written, might just be one of my personal favourites of yours now.

[daninstockholm]

Hi Eliot! That was the challenge for me with this one. To find a way to write about something as awful as war but in a way that was the opposite style. I'm glad you like it, frankly, so do I.

[...]

Very strong and very open. I like your honesty way to say things.

[daninstockholm]

Thank you so much, I'm very flattered that you think so.

[Philip Muls]

Hey Dan, you write with such ease.

What I take away here is that you cannot fool children, they feel what is right and wrong.

And they are innocent until that is gone.

Well done.

[daninstockholm]

Oh how I wish that were true, Phillip. The last thing i write with is ease, my friend. I hear a voice, quite literally, in my head and have to rush to write down what it dictates to me before it disappears, if i have to wait, it's gone and can't be recovered. If I don't hear a voice and try to write, it's usually not as good, at least not in my opinion. I know that sounds rather,, ... odd. but it's true. The thing I wish most is that it would happen more often. It comes in spurts, sometimes I can write a number of poems, other times barely one or two. and it can be a very long time in between. AT any rate, having said that, I thank you deeply for your praise. It's greatly appreciated. You're correct in saying that children know right from wrong. I think it's because they still trust their instincts, something which we, as adults have trained ourselves not to do.

[Philip Muls]

Hi Dan. Writing is hard work but when it is good than the reader thinks it was written with ease...which was the case with your work. I know the frustration of unpredictable bursts of inspiration and the constant fear of missing something good. Courage my friend.

[Gee]

Really like this Dan,as,I would imagine will ,most people that read it.Good stuff...

[daninstockholm]

Thanks!! It was a fun challenge to write it, I'm glad you like it!!

[KWP]

well i like it

I like the pace and the tone and the trying to make sense of a situation that is out of their hands. I like the questioning ans the underlining finger pointing without actually pointing any fingers. I like the family warmth and the dear desire to be reunited as one. I like the rhyming and the offbeat wording which peaks one's interest over and over ...

I like most of all the simplicity in the answer of what could they do ... because really it is simple and yet we just cannot have that key to access it.

yes well done XX

[daninstockholm]

Thank you very much!! LIke I said, i was hesitant to post this one as wel, I wasn't sure how it would be recieved. I rather like the format for telling such a story, the counterpoint is too good to resist, imho,, I'm honored that you like my work, my dear and hope that we can share ideas many times in the future! xxx