the t-rex took a bite out of my back
I was surprised at this dino attack!
stegosaurus gave the t-rex a mean kick
healing my back with a frothy lick
so, all dinosaurs are not mean or bad
the stegosaurus is the best one I ever had
I am glad I did not judge them all by the t-rex
I would have missed out on my best friend, Flex.
the den is as dark as the inside of a witch’s hat, macabre as can be
someone with a green face and pointed nose sits across from me
her nose gives a twitch, there is too much make up around her eyes
her hat is pointed with inverted peak at the top, no big surprise.
my partner is dressed as a computer, with a square metallic head.
Her date is Dracula, red blood around mouth as if he’s eaten some dead.
my date is uncomfortable, I can tell by the way his eyes move around.
a more unlikely candidate for a Halloween party can rarely be found.
table is set in Victorian crystal; there is a pile of something on the plate.
hostess has just arrived dressed in drag; she is fashionably late.
We clap for her, for her entrance deserves some kind of applause.
Walking past our table is a dark grizzly with the longest bear claws.
Let’s get out of here my date says as a tail hits him in the neck.
Tail of a large sparkly purple stegosaurus who stops to genuflect.
Giving the hostess his arm, making his way back now.
Tail hits my man again. He jumps up and says “Holy cow!”
my stegosaurus lurks in the bushes
hiding from the neighbors, because he is shy
fearful of their ridicule and prying questions
trusting only me, which makes me feel terrific
I toss celery, tomatoes and radishes his way
he throws them in the air before he gulps them down
the neighbors do not question what I am doing
they are fearful of me, because I see what they cannot
outside, I usually I keep my stegosaurus Wild Willie hidden,
but if I shriek he comes at a gallop, feeling validated and bidden.
Police have come twice, called by my neighbor Sam, who is full of fright.
I laugh, asking who has ever seen a real dinosaur, right?
Willie cannot got to work with me, because I work at an elementary school.
They do not even allow pets, for fear they might sweat, potty, bite or drool.
He stays at home in his corner eating eggs and rice, watching Netflix.
His tail accidentally opens the curtains, which causes a real conflict.
I bring home eggs and rice, so Willie is totally content and clean.
He has a little poo pile out back, where his poos are used for flower sheen.
We have never had an argument or disagreed on anything remotely big.
Except he did have a hissy fit when I suggested adopting a pot-belly pig.
the stegosaurus was thirty-feet long
this is as long as a person's large front porch
How big do you suppose her brain was?
As big as a full thirty-nine gallon garbage bag?
The size of a small midsized sedan?
Believe this or not, this huge creature’s brain was….
the size of a small walnut, weighing two and a half ounces.
Buddy brings in a stegosaurus bone
My husband and I both yelp and groan
Chewing so hard now, there is a bit of foam
While my husband chews, I write this poem
Steve the Stegosaurus seemed an awful grumpy fellow,
All he did was stomp about, and how he roared and bellowed.
All the other dinosaurs knew he was around,
The noise he made was deafening, and tremors shook the ground.
Danny the Diplodocus said he'd have a word,
For Steve the Stegosaurus, was acting quite absurd.
He said " tell me Steve, what is up with you,
The place is in an uproar, we don't know what to do."
He said, "I'm a Stegosaurus you can't say I'm petite,
I mean just take a look, have you not seen my feet?
I don't mean to be so noisy but I bellow every day,
It's just so the little ones can get out of my way."
"Oh Steve, said Danny, just you roar and bellow,
None of us ever knew that you were such a thoughtful fellow."
And so Steve he bellows, they hear him every day,
"Here comes thoughtful Steve" they say,
....as they move out of his way.
Entry for
DINOSAUR(S) - FOR CHILDREN Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Line Gauthier
18/6/2019. Placed 3rd.
I was on a bus for hours once
So I celebrated the dawning of our friendship
By texting you nicknames for yourself
To give us a shared something that required the simple maintenance of memories and smiles.
"Stegosaurus."
When things fall apart later, I examine the evidence,
Like fossils, in diorama, under glass.
The science of friendship is faith.
It's missions
(Can I trust you?)
And milestones
("I believe you")
And excavation
(Why did you do that? Why? Tell me why?)
With details that are precious and rare
I watch you struggle, so young
through the amber tar of your history
Glittering in the firelight of the things that destroyed you.
I dig.
And you have your resin-hard convictions
And I've got a theory
But no proof.
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