OWEE

OWEE, A BOY WE ONCE KNEW
(Written For My Children: Breakfast Fun Reading)
Gina Widholm, 2001

Owee is the name of a boy we once knew
He groaned every morning and all the day through
As he held up a finger high for inspection
and worried he'd gotten a nasty infection.

An elbow, a shin, a knee or a thigh
his wrist, his ankle, his cheek or an eye
a knuckle, a hip, a toe, ear or nose
his forehead, his chest and his neck we suppose.

All had problems and deserved quick attention
and demanded bandaids to cure the infection
His mother ran ragged to cuddle and soothe
the hundreds of owees he'd happen to use
to keep her in shape and tip top condition
convinced he needed a personal physician.

Interjecting loudly to grab such attention
were AH, YEOW, and OUCH all used with inflection
but if, perhaps, his cries were to fail
he'd whimper, cry, scream, and fall down to wail
He loved the control some new injury would bring
Convinced in his mind, the boy thought he was King.

Then, one fateful day, he heard amongst whispers
his mother and father and one older sister
"Enough is enough and he'll just have to take
a medicinal potion for the ailments he makes
and attention and doting he'll no longer receive
until he is trustworthy and can be believed."

Just then a big THUD and a squeal of disaster
which normally brought feet running faster than faster
Slowly paced to the spot where the child now lay
"What? There's no blood?" and they all turned away

But the child ever strengthen by past good intentions
continued to wail for his parents affections
to which they brought forth a disturbing concoction
a medicinal potion prescribed...by the doctor?
Of garlic, vinegar, pepper or worse?
a teaspoon of this and no owees will hurt!

His favorite blue spoon was used to deliver
the blessing that caused his poor stomach to quiver
He matured 2 whole years from that lesson they said
and that day his name changed from Owee to Fred.