while sitting alone on the very top shelf,
said it’s strange, even if I do say so myself,
to be a curious elf, way up high on a shelf.
But I woke up this morning and thought to myself,
I wonder what is up there so high on that shelf?
Perhaps it’s a treasure I can keep for myself?
Curiosity made me climb from my leaf to this shelf.
I like being part of a family of elves,
6 sisters, 5 brothers, in all I’m the twelfth.
But it certainly isn’t much fun on this shelf.
This is just not a place for an angel-eyed elf!
Sometimes it’s hard being a velvet-clad elf,
I forgot to remember, climbing up on this shelf,
that I’m not big enough to get down by myself.
“Won’t somebody please help this curious elf?”
“Oh why did I ever climb up here on this shelf?
I think I knew it was hopeless to get down by myself,
but I thought, what the heck, it’s such a curious shelf.
It’s sure scary, being stranded all alone by myself!”
~ ~
So if you’re no bigger than this quite tiny elf,
don’t got climbing for things, high on shelves, by yourself.
Find somebody big to get stuff off the high shelf,
or you might get stuck like this curious elf.
rob kistner © 2019
NOTE: This is a Seuss influenced, existential nursery rhyme, inspired by the quote here at the top, from nihilist philosopher and writer, Franz Kafka. This is about an elf who knowingly pushed himself to the probable point of no return — and regretted it.
Whimsical and instructional. I can see kids remembering this one!
I tried to mix in a little “what’ the use” nihilism Lisa, with some advice for the young.
Interesting poem. Very childlike!
The task prompted was to write a poem for a young person Toni. In this case, I chose a nursery rhyme.
Dr Suess will be recruiting you! Great rhymes and stuff kids love
Thank you Kate. I write little short 4-5 line poems like this for my 5-year-old grandson. He loves them! 🙂
Great to see you writing in spite of your visual challenges. I just had cataract surgery yesterday, and thank the gods, I’m feeling boffo today. Your Elf nursery rhyme is sweet, yet it contains a parent’s message as well; rocking the prompt yet again.
Thank you Glenn. I had cataract surgery 6 years ago. It was like a miracle. Now I just need to get my right eye retina healed. Always something as we age… 🙂
Wishing I had a small child to read this to.
Hank you Candy — read it to friends child… 🙂
Nice monorhyme. I can see why your grandson loves them.
Thank you Frank! 🙂
We all finally get to that point of no return… even the elf! Love it Rob.
Thanks Dwight. Yes we do… 🙂
I enjoyed your Seuss-influenced, existential nursery rhyme, Rob, with its child-friendly rhymes, rhythm and repetition – and an important lesson.
Thank you Kim! 🙂
Turn it into a Christmas book!
Somebody beat me to it Xan… 😉
That elf on a shelf has a way of getting around.
And to some places, out of which he cannot get… 😉
Any child could identify with this (and most adults too…)
Thank you Kerfe, that means a great deal to me! I greatly appreciate your kind words! 🙂
Musical curiosity! Love this one.
Thank you so very much Reena, I am glad you liked this! 🙂
Ah, but don’t you know how fun it is to go up, and grow up? This reminds me of once when I was young and my family and some friends were picnicking in Eldorado Canyon, a mecca for rock climbers. I went off with a friend and we climbed up a hundred feet. It wasn’t straight vertical, but I can see now how freaked out our parents were when they saw us on top of the cliff. Luckily, we found a better, hard scrabble way down. We were proud, but our parents? Not so much. It’s a great lesson in your tale though: contrary to popular belief, going down is often much more difficult.
If I was your father we would have had a serious heart to heart discussion. My grandson, who is turning 6 today, is in gymnastics for 3 years now. Watching him on the rings or climbing thr knotted rope to the top of the gymnasium, puts my heart in my throat — but he is as agile and balanced as a skinny little monkey… and he is quite strong. In my limited climbing experiences I definitely found it much more difficult coming back down.
I think there is wisdom in not climbing, but isn’t it boring to always be wise. Maybe you need someone to always help you get back again.
Certainly both are true Björn , and both will always be the way of the world. Perhaps the warning “not to” is simply a plea to “be careful”.