One single dish, one single pea

A Dr. Seuss inspired poem.

~

 

The sign on the door said,

Come one and come all

We welcome the short

and we welcome the tall

 

From the east or the west

or some place in between

Whether yellow or red

or a shade of mint green

 

The fickle, the faint,

the fun and the few

The old and the young

and the very brand new

 

Our menu, you see

offers many things sweet

Or as some prefer

mashed potatoes and meat

 

There’s no better place

to make thin people fat

And then it was signed by,

The Cat in the Hat

 

Well, being quite fat

I just went on my way

I took a few steps

when I heard someone say

 

“Hey friend, where you going

we’ve got plenty to eat

Come on, what’s the hurry

I have saved you a seat”

 

“I couldn’t”, I answered

this strange looking cat

“I need to lose weight

as you see I’m quite fat”

 

Then he whispered a secret,

“Please do come on in

I’ve a special dish

that makes fat people thin”

 

Now how could that be,

I thought, this can’t be true

Was this really something

this strange cat could do

 

So inside I went

and sat down in a seat

Just waiting to see

what he’d bring me to eat

 

As I looked around

what my eyes they did spy

Everybody was fat,

every plate piled high

 

I watched as they swallowed

their meals with such ease

French fried bananas with

chocolate sauce cheese

 

Peppermint meat loaf

and brussel sprout cream

Beets made of frosting

that taste tangerine

 

Asparagus waffles

that looked like a s’more

They ate and they ate

and they ate so much more

 

Pineapple pasta

with butterscotch stew

Macaroon meatballs,

sautéed honeydew

 

Graham cracker nachos,

vanilla bean dip

Some Dr. Seuss juice

when they needed a sip

 

It all looked real good,

so delicious the taste

But what would he serve

that would slim down my waist

 

When then he appeared

and all I could see

Was one single dish

with one single pea

 

He said with a smile

“Now eat this real slow

and soon you will see

that your problem will go”

 

For hours I sat

with my knife, fork and spoon

Eating this pea

when I looked round the room

 

The others it seemed,

what they just couldn’t hide

All appeared so much fatter,

they’d become extra wide

 

Its then he returned

and he said with a grin

“Well, how do you feel?”

I said, “I feel quite thin”

 

“Compared to those others,

how they did expand

I don’t feel so big,”

and then I shook his hand

 

“Thank you, my friend,

you’ve made me feel great

Not what I’d expect

from a pea on a plate”

 

Who knew that a pea

all alone on a dish

Would bring true my dreams

and answer my wish

 

He gave me a wink

or something like that

I’m glad I had lunch with,

The Cat in the Hat

 

 

 

 

Author's Note

This was all in fun and in no way was written to offend people who view themselves as overweight…myself included. : )

Reviews

[Ken Simm.]

Oh yes. Wish I could find that pea as well.

[M]

I know not who Doctor Seuss is, but I loved this writing for the way it reads and rhymes. Such a long poem that read so short in my mind. I appreciate your talent, willweb.

[willweb]

Thank you so much Makhabat. Dr. Seuss was a children's book author who wrote in rhyme and created whimsical, creatures, places and scenes. The Grinch who stole Christmas was one of his stories along with The Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham and many, many others.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I know someone who would have really appreciated this poem...well two...
Louie Anderson and John Pinette.
and the Cat in the Hat had Meow Mix?

[willweb]

Thanks Jacob, I'm just happy you enjoyed it.

[Ciara]

When I started reading I thought this could easily belong as verse in The Grinch or other Seuss tale and there it was, cat in the hat. Very much in the flavour of Seuss. Really enjoyed. 👏

[willweb]

Thank you Ciara. I just wanted to see if I could write something in his style. I am happy you liked it.

[Cyprian Van Dyke]

This was a very creative write. I don't tolerate fat jokes, or any jokes making fun of people. So many people suffer from being overweight, even if they don't look to be. I even worked with two people that tried to gain weight and it was hard for them. But on to your poem.

What I really liked about this was the cleverness of Dr. Seuss. He also served a guest that had a low bill. But a smile on his face. Showing he wasn't after money. You don't see many narrative poems. I wish there were more. You wrote a really creative one. Tyfs

[willweb]

Thanks so much. I am glad you liked this one. And I don't tolerate much of anything that puts another person down for any reason.

[Soren]

The whole world is fat now days, so don't worry about offending anyone except anorectics. I remember the Cat in the hat, it was one of my favorites as a child. This read just like it. In the story itself was a great moral. Years ago I got rid of most everything I owned, either throwing it away or giving it away. How much thinner I felt. It was like a huge weight was removed from my shoulders. I guess that is the whole issue with sanyasis in the Hindu religion. A great read Will.

[willweb]

Hey thanks Soren. I was always a fan of Dr, Seuss and wondered if I could write something like him, this was my attempt. I am glad you liked this. Oh, as far as "stuff" , you would hate my house. My nickname is Packrat and for good reason.

[K.P.H.M]

Such a fun read! I love narrative and the message. Amazing work as always!

[willweb]

Aw, thank you so very much. I am happy you had some fun with this one.

[Chris Shaw]

Just read this one again will. Such fun, very much enjoyed and well worth a second helping. Great rhyming.

Chris

[willweb]

Thank you again my friend. I had a lot of fun writing this and wanted to feature it and bring it to the top again.

[Chris Shaw]

A fun epic and I was left wondering how much the bill came to at the end of this adventure. No doubt it hit the pocket with a wallop:)

Chris

[willweb]

Well, you know everything nowadays costs a lot more than it used to. : )
Thank you so much for reading and commenting. I am happy you enjoyed this.

[Sami Khalil]

Very creative and fun to read. Has a good, light-hearted message. Rhyming is wonderful too. Enjoyed tremendously. At least they did not ask you for a mask.................

[willweb]

Yep, no masks in my poetry. : ) Thanks so much my friend.

[Sami Khalil]

WOW! You are welcome WillWEb...