TERENCE THE ICE-SKATING TURTLE
When Terence the Turtle chose his career
He’d no one to help him from far or from near
No one to tell him he’d just look a fool
None to persuade him to stay on at school
Terence was fired by one burning ambition
To become an ice skater – his only mission.
When Terence was laughed at and told he was silly
He retired to the garden to talk with the Lily
Lily was clever, and dainty and sweet
She said no matter he didn’t have feet
Of the kind that were shaped to wear a skate
I believe, she said, you’re meant to beat Fate.
Believe in your dream, she said with a wink
You have to dream big – and don’t let it shrink
Imagine your feet as if they were tiny
Feet that can sparkle in boots that are shiny
Feet that can twinkle and leap and go spinning
Feet that are grinning at prizes they’re winning.
Terence suddenly felt that his dream could come true
And decided to buy the boots that are blue
Blue boots are best when they’re put to the test
With a swanky new hand-knitted ice-skater vest
He chose red for his vest and puffed out his chest
How good he was feeling – blessed with such zest.
One day as he practised his leaps on the ice
Some kids who were passing said he looked nice
Terence was thrilled (to the boots) I guess
They suggested he add to his suit a headdress
Something stunning and utterly funky
We know, the kids said – you need a monkey.
The kids asked Terence to be their friend
And made a big placard, carefully penned
Come see Terence the Turtle, the Master of Skates,
Payment is either in cents or in dates
Terence does figures, he leaps and he spins
Terence the Turtle is great on his pins.
Meanwhile the Monkey who’d answered their ad
Turned out to be cousin to Lily’s dad
Lily was thrilled to find her relation
Even more thrilled with T’s creation
An ice-skating turtle, what a great laugh
Next you’ll be wanting promotional staff.
Not a bad idea said Chunky the Monkey
That old sign is now looking clunky
Now that we’re sorted and out on the road
I’ll be needing some help – could we look for a toad?
I’ve been recently told that toads abound
So we’ll probably find some here on the ground.
Look at that Turtle, he’s really a joke
‘Twas a cheeky young bullfrog beginning to croak
Stop there: Chunky yelled, and bellowed and shouted
Barry the Bullfrog – you’ve just now been outed
For Barry it was who had first told Terence
That he was descended from Ice-skating parents.
Terence was thrilled and started to spin
He did a quick tapdance – that made them grin.
The kids went with Chunky and Lily and Barry
Terence found love and decided to marry
They were happy forever and all shared a house
They believed in each other and life was just grouse.
ove it what came first the illustration or the poem?
The poem – illustration was provided by Australian Children’s Poetry. Happy that you liked it. Jan