Notes About The Poem
For Nette Onclaud's What's With the Box contest May 3, 2026

Shoebox Surprise

I found a shoebox stored away
under my young son’s bed one day.
It hadn’t been there two evenings ago.
What could it be? I needed to know,
for in its lid - small holes he had made.
Its contents I felt prompted to invade.
At two lidless eyes I felt myself gape.
A tiny lizard scrambled to escape.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2026

Poem

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Strudwick Avatar
May 11, 2026 at 12:59 AM
Nice one Andrea. As I said in my entry - 'That will teach you to pry!'
Dronsfield Avatar
May 10, 2026 at 11:26 AM
Congratulations my friend. Happy to stand beside you for this contest! :)
Guptar Avatar
May 10, 2026 at 8:16 AM
Congratulations dear poetess on your top win in this contest with a humourous poem, which is close to reality. Lizards are quite invasive, particularly if there are trees close to houses. Wish you a pleasant Sunday.
Croft Avatar
May 10, 2026 at 7:08 AM
Congratulations on your win very funny
Crandall Avatar
May 9, 2026 at 2:35 PM
Haha fun story - did it really happen!
Dietrich Avatar
May 9, 2026 at 3:12 PM
No. Fiction again! But my stepsister, a really weird girl, caught a mouse and hid it in our close in a box It smelled really bad and finally my mom discovered why that closet smelled that way!
Emate Avatar
May 9, 2026 at 12:21 AM
Oh! I hate lizards let alone finding one in my home. They're a common sight in my country. Nice poem. Congratulations!!
George Avatar
May 8, 2026 at 5:50 PM
The one thing l want to get rid of from my house is lizard. I hate lizards, cockroaches and snails. Your son must have kept the lizard as a pet. Children are so curious and they will do all such odd things. Congratulations on your win dear Andrea.
Reese Avatar
May 7, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Shoeboxes can indeed hold surprises sometimes like this one Avery nice entry in the contest. You ask in your last review if I've ever done a Quatern I have 17 submitted here My 2 favorites are tiled "Jesus" and "When I Look Upon The Roses"
Jones Avatar
May 5, 2026 at 11:27 PM
Delightful! Love your shoebox adventure Andrea! You should do well! Best wishes!
Callus Avatar
May 5, 2026 at 9:42 AM
This cute, ably-rhymed poem could have easily been referring to my childhood years when I had all sorts of pets in cardboard boxes and tins; probably to make up for lack of toys! // paul
Sheehan Avatar
May 4, 2026 at 2:40 PM
Great rhyme Andrea. Nice story. You've got to keep an eye on the youngsters. Enjoyed. Thanks for posting.
Godwin Avatar
May 4, 2026 at 7:24 AM
You are so going to win. BRAT! You always use cleverness rather than ponder your life's relationship with boxes or whatever it may be. You would have been rich if you'd used that cleverness at an ad or marketing agency. You would have sold out, many things would own you, but you'd be rich. The lizard thing is not an unusual occurrence in my house; I scream quite often. God forgive me, I HATE reptiles. and perhaps BRATS
Dietrich Avatar
May 4, 2026 at 11:56 AM
you got me. I am just not someone able to go into really deep reflections. I do like to investigate things deeply though and come up with facts and counterarguments related to those ideolgies. There was a Souper here that died years ago. He told me the same thing you are telling me here. I would have enjoyed working for an ad agency. Also he told me I should try to send lyrics to country musicians. I was too lazy to pursue that, but now it's not even doable. they have AI for THAT.
Buhagiar Avatar
May 4, 2026 at 2:28 AM
You took a leaf from my old poems, with a surprise ending. Loved your poem.
Dietrich Avatar
May 4, 2026 at 11:56 AM
thanks, Victor, I like surprise endings a lot.
Empress Avatar
May 4, 2026 at 2:13 AM
Is it a real story? Gosh! I would be screaming if ever i had to see that! Hahah! Lizard! Boys! My son had the weirdest things in his room, he had an eel once , whixh he found while snorkeling! I think i understand men better cus im a boy mom! Lol Pleasure reading you today! Sending you light always And best wishes if this is for a contest
Dietrich Avatar
May 4, 2026 at 11:58 AM
No, I made this up but it's highly probable in certain states where lizards are common. I did have a weird stepsister who found a mouse on the street and put it in a shoebox. She hid it really well and we could not figure out where the horrible smell was coming from . My mom did a deep clean of the closet I shared with that sister and we found the poor dead mouse.
Singh Avatar
May 3, 2026 at 9:25 PM
Delightful experience. I like it.
Dietrich Avatar
May 4, 2026 at 11:59 AM
thanks.
Legros Kelley Avatar
May 3, 2026 at 6:54 PM
Cute! I found that, many years ago, my kids had decided to bring in a lizard and tried to keep it for a pet, no way babies! Lizards belong outside!! Your poem is so cute Andrea :) <3
Dietrich Avatar
May 4, 2026 at 12:32 AM
Hmmm I don't think we have them in my part if Utah. But I have seen them in arizona
Etgen-Baker Avatar
May 3, 2026 at 4:47 PM
yikes!
Rolland Avatar
May 3, 2026 at 3:53 PM
love your poem, so much, this is really surprising and good, a favorite
Dietrich Avatar
May 4, 2026 at 12:33 AM
Thanks so much
Kendrick Avatar
May 3, 2026 at 2:23 PM
Whoa!! What a shock. I saw one outside this morning very early and it was still cold from the chill of last night and probably could not move and I stood there and talked to it. Thanks for sharing this contest entry with us. It reads like a good contender to me. Way to go. Sara K
Dietrich Avatar
May 4, 2026 at 12:33 AM
So you have them where you are bi don't think I ever saw one in my area
Bayles Avatar
May 3, 2026 at 12:06 PM
Such a delightful poem, Andrea.
Dietrich Avatar
May 4, 2026 at 12:34 AM
Thanks, Mike
Hind Avatar
May 3, 2026 at 11:20 AM
LOL cute!!
Dietrich Avatar
May 4, 2026 at 12:34 AM
Thanks, sweetie
Meadows Avatar
May 3, 2026 at 11:00 AM
That would be quite a surprise!! Quite a shock. A fun poem!
Dietrich Avatar
May 4, 2026 at 12:33 AM
Thank you
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