Bibliofreakblog

FreeVerse: Mr. Toad

I’ve been reading this book about stories that influenced C.S. Lewis, called Tales Before Narnia.  It’s crazy overdue at the library, so I should be giving a proper review of it soon.

In the meantime, I thought I might use it for a few FreeVerse posts.

 As you can imagine, the book includes some bits from The Wind in the Willows.  I never read that one as a kid, but do remember a claymation movie of it, I think on PBS.

Here is a little song that Mr. Toad makes up for himself.  It’s untitled, but I’ve chosen to call it “Mr. Toad.”

Really, I just love the meter.

“Mr. Toad” by Mr. Toad, as written by Kenneth Grahame

The world has held great Heroes,
As history-books have showed,
never a name to go down to fame,
Compared with that of Mr. Toad!

The clever men at Oxford
Know all that there is to be knowed;
But they none of them know one half as much
As intelligent Mr. Toad!

The animals sat in the Ark & cried,
Their tears in torrents flowed;
Who was it said “There’s land ahead”?
Encouraging Mr. Toad! 

The Army all saluted
As they marched along the road.
–Was it the King?–or Kitchener?
No; it was Mr. Toad.

The Queen and her Ladies-in-waiting
Sat at the window and sewed.
She cried “Look! who’s that handsome man?”
They answered: “Mr. Toad!”