The Written Word Tuesday: The Turtle & The Bagpipe

I believe it was middle school when I discovered my love of poetry.  Writing poems was one of my favorite things about English class; Painting word pictures is one of my favorite things to do.  But I also love reading poems, especially by my favorite poets.  In that spirit I would like to take it upon myself to share with you some of my favorite works.  

This is my all-time favorite poem.

The Bagpipe Who Didn't Say No

It was nine o'clock at midnight at a quarter after three 

When a turtle met a bagpipe on the shoreside by the sea, 

And the turtle said, 'My dearie, 

May I sit with you? I'm weary.' 

And the bagpipe didn't say no. 

Said the turtle to the bagpipe, 'I have walked this lonely shore, 

I have talked to waves and pebbles--but I've never loved before. 

Will you marry me today, dear? 

Is it 'No' you're going to say dear?'

But the bagpipe didn't say no. 

Said the turtle to his darling, 'Please excuse me if I stare, 

But you have the plaidest skin, dear, 

And you have the strangest hair.

If I begged you pretty please, love, 

Could I give you just one squeeze, love?' 

And the bagpipe didn't say no.

Said the turtle to the bagpipe, 'Ah, you love me. Then confess! 

Let me whisper in your dainty ear and hold you to my chest.' 

And he cuddled her and teased her 

And so lovingly he squeezed her. 

And the bagpipe said, 'Aaooga.'

Said the turtle to the bagpipe, 'Did you honk or bray or neigh? 

For 'Aaooga' when your kissed is such a heartless thing to say. 

Is it that I have offended? 

Is it that our love is ended?' 

And the bagpipe didn't say no. 

Said the turtle to the bagpipe, 'Shall i leave you, darling wife? 

Shall i waddle off to Woedom? Shall i crawl out of your life? 

Shall I move, depart and go, dear-- 

Oh, I beg you tell me 'No' dear!' 

But the bagpipe didn't say no.

So the turtle crept off crying and he ne'er came back no more, 

And he left the bagpipe lying on that smooth and sandy shore. 

And some night when tide is low there, 

Just walk up and say, 'Hello, there,' 

And politely ask the bagpipe if this story's really so. 

I assure you, darling children, the bagpipe won't say 'No.'

-Sheldon Allan Silverstein

I'm not quite sure why this is my favorite poem, it's actually quite bittersweet... without the sweet.  But it is what it is.

-XO Juls