The Widow Wyile kicks off
her shoes to work
on a skipping rhyme
so she can hop from there
to hear bells every time
she sees boxes locked up
tight locked
down safe
ding gong
bing wrong ding!

She’s seeking soul
sense upon the commons
turned upside dong
feeling all
in her bare feet
bing gong plink

She stands there
as the rope swings round
and round
trying to get the beat
looking for the sense
of being locked in
of being locked out
looking all around
listening to the thud scud
sound of jump rope
grazing the ground
darting her head
back and forth
like a clever crow

so she’ll know just
when to jump in
when to jump out
as the rope twirls
round and round
zinging bits of rhyme
untied:

Engine Engine
number mine
was it you was it
who stole the cookies
what’s the crime
the ants come marching
one by ten by seven
up the hill and down again
my mother told your mother
peel your pantyhose
sprinkle it with lime
why oh why
go hold your tongue

Five potatoes six potatoes
stored in a box
the weasel couldn’t get them
neither could the fox
those clever taters shot
out eyes goin’ straight
for the corners
for the light 

The twirlers they grew weary
dropped the handles
drooped their
rubber bleary arms
swayin’ swayin’, on the spot
till sweet sock talk
felled them all sleep tight

When the moon set down
and sun rose up well glory be
along chugged that engine
choo choo right on time
delivered love potion special
number one-oh-nine!

The sleepers round the world
ALL woke up
in a hot pepper RUSH

they opened all the windows
they opened all the doors
repurposed all the boxes
to mulch potato plants
then
they skipped-on-out
they skipped-up-high
super sparkling fast
full up with glee
along with the rest
of their one love rain-bow
Fa-Mi-Ly 

Skip to my silly Rhyme
skip to my lovely Lou
it’s always such Fun
skipping with YOU 

salt
cinnamon
pepper
set me
f-r-e-e
FREE!