A poem by Robert L. Slater, inspired by Theodore Geisel

In the spring of the year of twenty fourteen
There was found a kind author with a penchant for green
He printed his novels on backs of DOOSpaper*
And tried to recycle all of the newspaper

When to his hometown he returned for a read
His welcome surprised him, too true, yes, indeed
Old friends and family called him all Robbie
And they sat and they talked in the library lobby

After the show, many books he did sell
Then off to the pizza place still feeling swell
He met with his editors, partner and friends
And they talked and he bubbled all over again

Then back to the motel, dingy and old
To wait till the sun came to check for the mold
The innkeeper was sorry, but not sorry enough
To give any discount, oh, boy that was tough.

The next day was better, a run on the beach
And a trip to the bookstore not far out of reach
The bookstore was closed on the Sunday and Mon
So back to the drawing board where he’d begun

He found a drugstore that sold books, drugs and gifts
The fact that they knew him gave him quite the lift
They took six new books to sell to more people
Then off Robbie went avoiding the Fleepell**

He went to a high school, to students he read
Though loving of Zombies, none were undead
They paid good attention and asked many queries
Till after an hour the author was weary

He headed north and did battle with Seattle traffic
But good news awaited at home, wait a tick,
The school wanted 30 new books signed right quick

He quoted a price that would fleece his accounts
Then hoped he could send the books south on a bounce
An ex-wife said no, I am already here
But a cousin, a niece said, “I’m going, no fear.”

So the author, our friend, settled in to do flooring
Replacing old fake wood with tile’s not boring
But hard work it was and tired he got
So watched he Star Wars movies with his youngest daught-
er or something like that.

The second Star Wars that was numbered Part Five
Was really refreshing for those still alive
A swim at the YMCA was quite cool
But, boy, was tired when he crawled from the pool

He mowed the high lawn ‘fore rain started to fall
[And yes, I know this bad grammar is all]
The spring break did end with a film that was Bella
And then some more pizza—what a happy fella

When he got back to school he found students galore
Awaiting to tell him ’bout the week gone before
So Kevin and Gabe did not know what to do
So they sat and made fun of Rob’s writing too

* D.O.O.S.paper is Dirty On One Side or the paper formerly known as scratch paper.
** I had to make up at least one proper noun!
Top