Daniel Henry Rodgers Poet Dramatic Monologue

Notes About The Poem

“I am a cage, in search of a bird.”
- Franz Kafka

"I know why the caged bird sings"
- Maya Angelou

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The Frog Who Wanted to Be King

i was a frog who wanted to be king
until i realized i couldn't even sing
    a songbird shrilled
    "you're only a croaker   out of tune"

still i stood on my stump with a tortured smile
croaking my heart out all the while
i dreamed of being a stand-up crooner
a swamp-side sinatra   maybe a little sooner

the crickets laughed
    the herons   one-legged   stared

every fragile dream i swallowed
sat inside me
    broken and unprepared

the wart-filled toad spat from his lily pad
"you’re stretching your skin boy
settle into the scum"

i carried an empty pond inside
where a thousand thorny dreams went to die

the audience left

the moon went home

a cold blue screen spit its light onto the scum
    unthinking

no one returned my croak

i died a little every time i tried

my face looked back from the pond
    mud-covered
    wart-covered
    ugly

my reflection looked away
all it could do was cry

today the water settled
the mud claimed the surface

when i looked down
    there wasn’t even a frog
        left to die

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Howard Kerr September 10, 2026 at 5:43 AM A most original, unique, dramatic monologue, Daniel, infused with a judicious medley of wry humour and tinged with an earnest sympathetic strain. It remains focussed and never wanders from its core message.🔥🙏🔥 Your report on my tribute to my sister I will always cherish. H

Dorothy Gibbons July 9, 2026 at 12:34 PM Great write Daniel a real storyteller you are for sure. It covered so many emotions. You had me hooked beginning to end Loved your powerful quotes too. They speak volumes. One of my fav writers / poet is Maya Angelou powerful quote " I know why caged bird sings" ~ she sure did. Blessings

Silent One June 22, 2026 at 11:40 AM You have shown your versitality with your pej here..An important message in your write..some will get it...some wont, but we always get different things from words...keep on inspiring my friend..

Victor Buhagiar June 21, 2026 at 9:56 AM Your poetry is always fantastic. Great story telling.

Mike Bayles June 21, 2026 at 8:53 AM What delightful story-telling!

Anne Winter June 20, 2026 at 9:00 PM Dearest Daniel, your poem stirred so many emotions. I had a little laugh and also felt a little sad. The frog, I feel so sad for him. Maybe he could be a king. I loved the fun and creative writing of your poem. Brilliant! With love and respect always, Anne

Ink Empress June 20, 2026 at 11:01 AM Not sure why I am laughing! Haha! Maybe cus i see myself there somewhere between your words too! Well I dont like singing, and it would be best not to, but I can scream songs! I used to scream nursery rhymes to my son! Ah talk about having a gothic mother? :D I love the caged quotes youv used here dear Daniel they hit so deep! Theres so much depth in this fun read! The ending especially made me feel sad for some reason! This is so very moving and touching and just brilliant! A fave! Sending you light always

Joanna Daniel June 20, 2026 at 5:23 AM Love the dark humour and philosophy of this lovely poem, Daniel:)

Valsa George June 19, 2026 at 11:50 PM Agree with Andrea. It was fun to read this. I wonder from where you gather such apt images or is it that you write seeing an image? "still i stood on my stump with a tortured smile croaking my heart out all the while" Lack of admiration or negative comments kill most... so with the frog. You are equally great in writing an epic or a simple lyric. But your distinguishing stamp will be there in each poem. That's what I see in your concluding lines. Dear Daniel, your poem I greatly enjoyed.

Andrea Dietrich June 19, 2026 at 11:20 PM Love when you write like this. So simple and fun to read yet with that clever profound twist at the end. Fave

Kim Rodrigues June 19, 2026 at 9:04 PM a swamp-side sinatra… i died a little every time i tried…we need to be who we are…perhaps someone will hear our croaking and it will matter! Good one…I’m just a little green frog sitting in the water etc…

Sara Kendrick June 19, 2026 at 2:32 PM Creative one with some humor then you had me feeling so sad about the frog's plight. Thank you for sharing this one, Daniel. Way to go. Sara K.

Beryl Edmonds June 19, 2026 at 1:18 PM Enjoyed the read Daniel. Even a frog can have his heart broken - When his croaking stirrs no one's emotion… Beryl

Tom Cunningham June 19, 2026 at 12:47 PM Enjoyed the humour Daniel, brought back memories of when I was in Mauritius, there was a large pond in the hotel grounds and being the mating season the frogs were creaking looking for a mate, don't know what type they were but they sounded like a jet engine lol. Tom