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JOSIE'S POEMS
Longer Narrative Poems
for Children
(Adapted from Aesop's Fables)
By Josie Whitehead
MATILDA MOUSE
AND THE KING OF THE BEASTS
By Josie Whitehead
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.'
​
Copyright on all my poems
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