Kevin's Bedtime

“Kevin’s Bedtime”

Jennifer Leigh Moerschel

My mom says that eight is too late

 For me to go to bed.

So at seven I hear,

“Kevin it’s time to go to sleep”, instead.

Over and over she has heard my plea,

“Tonight, I should go to bed at eight, 

It is not too late for me!”

But my mom never budges; she never gives in!

It is always the same, this argument I cannot win!

So into bed I woefully go.

I cannot fall asleep at seven;

I have told her so.

I try to get comfortable; I try to rest…

But...

My sheets feel scratchy!

My pajamas are too tight!

My pillow is not fluffy!

Things just don’t feel right!

My throat is thirsty.

My leg has a pain.

Did I finish my Math homework?

Is that the pitter patter of rain?

The moon coming through my window,

Is a little bit too bright.

My birthday is coming soon.

Did I tell mom about the kite?

Round and round and round they go

Till all my thoughts are tired.

Everything that has happened today,

And many events prior.

Wearily, I turn over, and what do I see to my surprise?

It is exactly eight o’clock as I close my eyes.

I thought that I was so smart, and knew what was best, 

But now I understand my mom’s secret quest!

If I am to drift off to sleep at eight,

Kevin must go to bed at seven.

Finally, I have that straight!

Kindness

“Kindness”

Jennifer Leigh Moerschel

Old Mr. Bagley Bones lived upon the hill.

He used to laugh. He used to dance. He used to love a thrill.

He used to share his food and drink and love people all around.

The happiness, the chatter, he loved to hear the sound.

Ms. Tillie Tightrope had sorrow in her life.

All her days were difficult, and she had a load of strife.

She did not have much in the way 
of riches or sparkling pearls to wear.

But she had love, and she had kindness, 
and she knew how to care.

Mr. Bagley Bones, as he grew old, forgot how to give.

He focused only on his problems and so forgot how to live.

Ms. Tillie Tightrope made a different kind of choice

She would not let sadness rule her; she decided to rejoice.

He grew old as he forgot, and he forgot as he grew old.

He saw the whole world change; life to him felt so strange.

He would not dance; he would not laugh, 
and his tale he never told.

Ms. Tillie gave a hand, whatever place she could.

She laughed and spread delight, and loved to do what’s right.

So in return, it flooded back upon her, just as it should.

Mr. Bones took a little trip into town one day.

He met Ms. Tillie along the way.

She was full of light and love,

Had eyes so peaceful like a dove,

And by her side he longed to stay.

She saw his sadness and his grief.

She gave a kiss upon his cheek.

Told him to look up and he would be okay.

He then began to feel his worries start to slip away.

He told her that he used to be happy; he used to have great bliss.

And these kinds of friends he certainly did miss.

But the world had changed; it was a different place.

And all of this sorrow he wished to erase.

She said with a twinkle and a smile,

“Now the world has had trouble for quite a long while.

It’s always had cares and worries.

But when we help others and are not in such a hurry,

We’ll find to our surprise we’ll find to our delight,

Sometimes things turn out just exactly right.

You start to see beauty when you give to another.

When you lend a kind hand to a sister or brother

The cares start to fly and the heaviness goes away.

You might just find a brand new day.”

Tillie had an idea, she told Mr. Bones

And wondered if he might just open up his home.

“Let’s give a party and let’s celebrate!

Let’s plan a menu and let’s set a date!”

Mr. Bones was unsure; it had been quite a long while,

But he said, “Okay, I'll do it”, and then began to smile!

He’d keep a secret with delight; he’d hold it close until the special night.

The day of the party Tillie was radiant with joy.

She loved to see her friend share,

 with the excitement of a young boy.

They talked and they laughed; they ate and they danced.

Mr. Bones had even bought a brand new pair of pants!

It was finally time, for his secret to be known.

He had changed through opening up his heart and his home.

The music played by his special request.

He held the eye of each and every guest. 

Then he brought Ms. Tillie up to the stage and said,

“I am so thankful for you and all you have helped me to do.

A new day, a new me, a new page…

So I was just wondering if you would...

 Engage…yourself to me, perhaps if you are free?

I would love for you to be my wife,

And for us to spend the rest of lives

Up on this hill full of good will,

Helping others to be free from strife.”

Ms. Tillie laughed and then Ms. Tillie cried.

“I am so happy”, she delightfully sighed.

“My plan was to give to others and be content.

My plan was to live alone, but you have been sent!

Now with you there is ,

Something so wonderful and new,

And I was given the best.

So dear Mr. Bones, my answer to you is...

 Absolutely YES!”

 Mr. Bagley and Ms. Tillie joined their lives and their hearts.

In the house upon the hill they had a brand new start.

They spread their good will to all in the town,

And none who met them ever left with a frown.

Now everyone opened their homes and their lives!

They laughed and they danced and were rid of their strife!

The whole town was merry the whole town was bright.

They had learned how to give and all was made right.

Miss Kitty

“Miss Kitty”

Jennifer Leigh Moerschel

I have a little kitty

Who sits very very prettily,

Always in the nursery,

On the anniversary,

Of when she came to be with me.

She likes to play a game.

It is always quite the same.

She prowls around the house

As if looking for a mouse,

Or perhaps the mouse’s spouse.

Then she creeps and she crawls

And she slides along the walls.

She trips and almost falls.

Then I come to her rescue.

I come to her aide.

I ask her if she would like

A nice drink of lemonade.

She declines most politely,

Goes and sits down quietly

And says, “If you were of my kind of ilk,

You would have known to bring me milk!”

I obey her command,

Place her bowl of milk on a stand.

Then we snuggle up for a while

Just in our kind of style.

 “Happy Anniversary”, I say,

“Now wasn’t that a fun day!”

Courage

Twinkle twinkle little story how I love your tales of glory! You are bright and you are fair.

You are crafted with great care. Twinkle twinkle bright and true, and may others learn from you!


“Contessa Marie”

 Jennifer Leigh Moerschel

 Contessa Marie has to be

The strangest anomaly you may ever see.

She’s petite and she’s smart.

She has a kind heart.

But there is just one thing you must know.

When she was just a girl,

She lived in quite a whirl

Of hankies and tissues and such things.

She has a unique situation.

It has nothing to do with her location.

But it’s just that her nose likes to sneeze.

As a wee babe on her mother’s knee,

She would let out the most miniscule sneeze

With twinkling laughing eyes.

All would be quite surprised

At her abundance of sneezing in one day.

As she got older, and her sneezes grew bolder,

Others would tease and laugh and examine her nose.

What happens if we pull and prod and make her sniff a rose?

Not a joyful time she had.

She would often feel quite lonely and sad,

Hide in her room, be ashamed of herself,

Until the visit from the little elf…

Just showed up one day,

To her surprise he had quite a lot to say.

“Yes, your nose it has grown.

So you want to stay home

To hide your sneezes and what you do not like.

I’m sent here to help you,

To show you what you must do,

No more hiding, no more fear,

You MUST decide!

To do the thing that you do not want to do

Will give you what you want to have.

You must go live your life! 

Step out, be free, no fear,

Don’t worry, don’t hide

I’ll cheer you on!

You won’t go wrong.

Let’s step out and find your way,

See what might happen today!

As she stepped out,

She heard a shout

From her mother who was quite surprised.

Contessa Marie declared her choice,

Spoke with a strong clear voice,

She was going to live her life.

With some help from the elf,

She met a man whose business you see

Was producing tissues daily.

He needed someone to test their softness.

“I need someone who can sneeze on demand,

Someone who can lend a helping hand (or nose!)

I need a volunteer.

If I could find this person,

We would all let out a cheer!”

He heard her tale, and it was true that

Contessa Marie would have a lot to do.

In his business sneezing was the very most important factor.

Actually, it was just what they were after.

He told her,

“Your sneezing is a gift!

Certainly hope this position is a good shift.

You are quite a help, and

Your sneezing will put more of our tissue boxes on the shelf!

She started the very next day.

Then soon after, she met a nice lady who had written a play.

She knew Contessa Marie was right for the role.

It would be quite humorous, it would be very droll.

Her sneezes would make the part come alive.

The story, her sneezes would drive

The exact way she wanted it to be.

“So what do you think, Contessa Marie”?

Of course she said,

“Yes, I will take the part!”

She would live her life

It was a brilliant start!

Now life was great!   Now life was grand!

She had found her place by lending a helping hand.

Friends to love and things to do,

This was all so fun so new!

A place to belong and giving to others too!

This is the story of Contessa Marie.

From sad to joyful was her journey.

She took what she had that she did not like,

Her trouble and problems and all of her strife,

And turned it around, and what she found was a

Wonderful, beautiful, glorious life.

Sometimes it is how you see,

And sometimes it is what you choose.

You don’t have to be sad, you don’t have to lose!

Take what you have, step out fresh and new!

Live fully, give to others, and your giving will come back to you!

“To do the thing that you do not want to do

Will give you what you want to have.

You must go live your life!

Step out, be free, no fear,

Don’t worry, don’t hide

I’ll cheer you on, you won’t go wrong

Let’s step out and find your way

See what might happen today!”

Questions

Twinkle twinkle little story how I love your tales of glory!  You are bright and you are fair.

You are crafted with great care. Twinkle twinkle bright and true, and may others learn from you!

“Questions”

Jennifer Leigh Moerschel

What do fish secretly wish 
as they swim along the ocean floor?
Do they like living below the surface
 or do they want more?

What do bears think 
as they drink in the moonlight of another eve?
Do they dance and sing in the secret places 
or quietly sit at ease?

What do lions adore
 as they roar loud and strong?
Is it their fun little song
 to bring fear far and near
And when they are alone
 would they shed a tear?

The wonders of this world
 so beautiful, so great,
Don't make a mistake
 and let them pass you by.
A flower bursting with fragrance and color
A hummingbird with a twinkle in his eye.

Three Tine Fork

Twinkle twinkle little story how I love your tales of glory! You are bright and you are fair.

You are crafted with great care. Twinkle twinkle bright and true, and may others learn from you!

“Three Tine Fork"

Jennifer Leigh Moerschel

It’s hard to eat a salad

With a three tine fork

Sitting in LA, London, Paris, or New York!

It’s difficult to do a trick upon your roller blades.

Practice practice practice

Will soon make you great.

What do you want to try?

What can you see ahead?

Singing, dancing, swimming fast

Or something else instead?

If you try and it’s hard

It doesn’t mean you stop.

Keep on going working day by day

You won’t be a flop!

The more you give your best

The more you’ll pass the test

New life, new you, new fun

You will be a success!!!

Laprina Marina, the Great Ballerina

 
Laprina Marina, the Great Ballerina

By Jennifer Leigh Moerschel


Our town is not happy
Our town has no cheer
Our town has no one 
who thinks we are dear.

Everyone stays in, no one says, "Bonjour"
We never have visitors, no one wants to take a tour

We need something different
We need a new chance
Our dull little town 
settled here in the South of France.

Then One Day...

Laprina Marina, the great ballerina,

Came to town in a pink cart.

She stood on her toes,

And blew her little nose,

And then the music did start.

She jumped and she twirled,

she flew and she whirled,

And all the town loved to see her dance!

Her skirts were very many,

And there were a gracious plenty

Who wanted to pursue a romance!

A school she did start,

The lady with the pink cart;

And little girls now came to jump and twirl.

This made our city very pretty,

And many said, “What a gem, what a pearl!”

Neighbors came out to meet each other,
"How is your father, your sister, your mother?"

They would sit on their porches and talk until late at night.
They would go to dance recitals and help each other fly their kites.

They painted the town with colors to please
They piped in the music that gave much ease.
The young and the old, together alike
How much fun they were having with all of their might.

 People now loved to visit this city,

with our new school, new songs,  and new dance.
People are friendly, people are kind,
 people are happy most of the time.

Everyone is delighted with our little town here in the South of France.

Now those who were young when they started to dance,

Found their own romances and moved away.

Many found a new start,

And took a pink cart to a city

 Where they would stay.

New schools they did build,

And what they did filled

Their hearts with delight each day.

They always remembered

They never forgot

The day their lives changed

It meant a whole lot!

The pink cart meant a new start,

A new life, a new dream, a new day!

This is what they now spread on their way.

To many villages, towns, and cities

They gave their souls and hearts

All because of one lady, one day, and one pink cart.

Live!

 

Twinkle twinkle little story how I love your tales of glory!  You are bright and you are fair.

You are crafted with great care. Twinkle twinkle bright and true, and may others learn from you!

“Live!”

Jennifer Leigh Moerschel

Dance in purple shadows

With a lampshade on your head

Say goodbye to nighttime and

Jump high upon your bed.

 

Tiptoe into starlight

Whisper secrets pink

Jump in magic circles

Of blue of sky you drink

 

Light the fire of tall trees singing

Lift the petals of blue bells ringing

Keep the moments in jars open wide

Fly to look what is inside the deepest mountain

What grows upon the ocean floor?

Dare I look at treasure deeper

Laughing till I can no more

 

Life around inside above

Enjoy it! LIVE! And say what you mean!

Dance in purple shadows singing

Life is so much more than just a dream!

The Garden

Twinkle twinkle little story how I love your tales of glory!  You are bright and you are fair.

You are crafted with great care. Twinkle twinkle bright and true, and may others learn from you!

“The Garden”

By Jennifer Leigh Moerschel

Said the clover to the daisy,

“Why are you yellow and I am green?

Why are you a kind of dull,

And I have a sheen?

Why do raindrops stick to you,

And slide off of me?”

Said the clover to the daisy,

“Why are you so yellow,

While I am green?”

Said the daisy to the dandelion,

“You are quite more beautiful than I.

You are light and wispy,

And when the wind blows,

How gracefully you fly!”

Said the daisy to the dandelion,

“You are quite more beautiful than I.”

Said the dandelion to the tulip,

 "You stand so straight and tall.

When I look at you I think,

I have no backbone at all.

Your colors are so bright and bold.

When I see you I feel a little old.”

Said the dandelion to the tulip,

“You stand so straight and tall.”

Said the Gardener to the garden,

“You are such a beautiful sight!

When you are put together

The painted canvas is just right.

How boring it would be if you were all the same!

How dull, how lifeless, how monotone,

We would need a different game!

How wonderful to see you creating a fragrant lovely way.

Your differences are what I love the best.

They bring me such pleasure each day!

Said the clover to the daisy,

“Come over and stand by me.

Our shapes and colors are quite unique,

And that is just the way it should be!”