katydid
This poem was published in the Old Town High School's 1981 Sachem yearbook. Since Patty was in the class of 82, she was a junior. Many thanks to the schoolmate that sent this to me :)
Have you ever wondered what it was?
Have you ever pondered the unfortunate cause
That left ol' Katy doomed
To chirp the day through
Clinging to the magnolia bloom?
Once Katy was as wild a child as
Any child could be.
Sipping tea was not her style.
She'd sooner chew on fleas.
She shocked her parents, her uncles and aunts
With her mischievous little tricks
She put minnows in the holiday punch
And up her nose stuck sticks.
Her mother cried each holiday
For Katy was sure to misbehave
And embarass the family once again
And ask for dollars from their friends.
One crisp and chilly Christmas day
Katy tore open her presents.
She found a tiny box on the way
In it, expensive ladies' essence.
The lovely fragrance filled the room
Her mother smiled with joy.
For Katy seemed terribly pleased with an item
That wasn't a breakable toy.
Yes, all was quiet as Katy stared
At the beautiful crystal bottle.
Till her mother screamed as
Katy's eyes steamed and the
Entire contents she swallowed.
Her parents decided this was the last straw
And all the family agreed
So they spent the day searching for a
Punishment to suit this terrible deed.
So her old uncle Jon, a sorcerer by trade
Turned little Katy into a cricket
And Katy a Katydid she stayed
Chirping her way through the thicket.
A harmless little jumper is she,
She hops off excess energy.