Skip-It

Ella was an old woman Who wanted to learn to skip She held tightly to the rope So she would not lose her grip Tossing the rope over her head That's when everything went awry Her face went extremely red As the rope hit her in the eye This did not defeat her She was determined to win Until the rope lassoed a vase That made an enormous din Ella put the rope on the ground So she could pick up the mess This skipping lark was tiring her This she must confess Ella tried again She wanted badly to skip It would help her to lose weight Feel healthier and fit She was a little overweight And wanted to be trim So she would look her best For a holiday with husband, Jim Ella picked up the rope She was beginning to despise Weary and exhausted With red and watery eyes She was growing very pale Her persistence brought no gain Gripping the dreaded skipping rope She persevered again Her legs got twisted in the rope It burst a varicose vein The pain was excruciating It nearly drove Ella insane Then she overbalanced And split her swollen lips Hit her head as she fell down And fractured both her hips The last that was heard of Ella She was in a Hospital bed With not thought of skipping Happy knitting instead!