V. G. and Me
When I watched a butterfly
Flutter by in the sky,
I tripped into a prickly bush
With thorns so sharp, they hurt my tush!
I wriggled and scriggled but got more stuck.
I felt trapped and out of luck.
Took a big breath and began to shout,
“Someone please come and help me get out!”
I yelled until I could yell no more,
My poor voice-box was really sore.
It hurt so much I could barely speak;
My shout became a tiny squeak.
Then I saw a little guy.
He proudly looked me in the eye
And said, “There’s no need to fear.
Help is here. I’ll get you clear.”
From the top of his head
To the tip of his toes
He was slightly less large
Than the length of my nose!
I said, “I’m too big and you’re too small;
It’s clear you have no chance at all.”
He said, “I’ll get you out, no need to worry.
You have the word of V. G. Mugurry.”
I sneered, “You’re no bigger than my ear!
I’ll be stuck forever and left right here.”
He replied, “You have nothing to lose to let me try.
“I have big ideas for a little guy.”
“Besides,” he said in his little voice,
“It seems to me you have no choice.
So why not just wait and see
If I’m able to set you free.”
“Okay,” I sighed to V. G. Mugurry,
“I’ll give you a chance, but please do hurry!
I’m tired of being in this bush;
These thorns are sharp and hurt my tush!”
He said, “I have some things that are quite near;
I’ll go there and bring them here.”
Then he left and I began to doubt
If he’d come back and get me out.
But he soon returned with a wagon
So full of stuff it was really saggin’.
He said, “I’ll get you out, and not just try;
I have big ideas for a little guy.
I know this job is really tough
But I brought with me all kinds of stuff.
I’ll get you out, just wait and see.
It won’t be long before you’re free.”
V. G. was not the kind to shirk;
He grabbed his tools and went right to work.
V. G. lashed three ladders from rope and wood.
The knots he used were really good.
He leaned two ladders against the bush
And took great care to miss my tush.
Then, what did that little guy do?
He tied ladder three to the other two.
Then he screwed on a winch
And lowered two ropes inch by inch.
He yelled, “Tie these together under your tush
You’ll soon be out of that prickly bush.”
V. G. tied some rope to the winch
Then yanked a crank and it moved an inch
V. G. pushed with all his might,
But I was stuck mighty tight.
I feared the ladders would soon to break,
How much more could they take?
Then, very much to my surprise,
The ropes and I began to rise.
V. G. gave it all he had.
He was real strong for a little lad.
He pulled me free and then swung around
And lowered me to the ground.
“Thank you! Thank you,” I told V. G.
“You kept your word and rescued me.
Though I am big and very tall
And you are very, very small,
You were big enough to set me free.
You’ll always have a friend in me.
You did what you said you’d do
I never should have doubted you!
Let’s take a walk to the shore
You and I can explore.”
He said, “That sounds like lots of fun.
Yes, my friend, I’d love to come.”
–Russ Towne
Russ Towne's A Grateful Man 