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JOSIE'S POEMS


Longer Narrative Poems 
for  Children


(Adapted from Aesop's Fables)

By Josie Whitehead

Matilda Mouse .jpg
King of the Beasts.jpg
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MATILDA  MOUSE
AND THE  KING OF THE BEASTS


By Josie Whitehead

Matilda Mouse and The King of Beasts

Matilda was a cheeky mouse
     Who liked to play a joke.
A sleeping lion felt her feet
      And quickly he awoke.

​

'How dare you wake me up, small mouse.
       Of all beasts, I am KING!
But snack on YOU?  Oh goodness no,
      You’re much too small a thing.'

​

He released Matilda from his grip:
      'Oh go away and play,
But don’t play tricks on mighty lions,
       That’s all that I can say!'

​

'Oh thank you sir,' Matilda said.
     'Your good deed does you proud.
I’ll pay you back – well if I can,'
     Matilda truly vowed.

​

The lion laughed: 'Oh go away.
      What could YOU do for ME?'
But he was wrong for saying this
      As you will quickly see.

​

Next morning found him in a snare –
      A huntsman’s trap for sure –
And, struggling, in this horrid net,
      He felt quite insecure.

​

The king of beasts was full of fear.
     His confidence had fled,

But his roars soon reached Matilda’s ears
     As she slept in her bed.

​

'Oh mighty king,' Matilda thought.
      'Are you in trouble now?'
And she recalled that she had made
     The king of beasts a vow.

​

She saw her friend caught in the snare,
     And he struggled there beneath,
But Matilda had a useful tool:
     Some razor-sharp small teeth.

​

She set to work and freed her friend.
     She’d helped him after all,
And the King of Beasts will not forget:
     'Don’t laugh at someone small.'

​


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