Another Clumsy Day Had I

She sells seashells by the seashore. 

A quite recognizable tongue twister for sure.

Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.

Another well known twist of your tongue and your choppers.

Seventy seven benevolent elephants—

I dare say you tried that one just now more than once.

Tongue twisters are common, international, and fun

But what of the clumsiness when you find yourself saying things like ‘son-of-a-gun’?

Do you ever feel awkward or inelegant—

And not just when you’ve imbibed an intoxicant.

If grace and coordination seem to be lacking

Do you have bruises to prove that your knees took a whacking?

At times we suffer a clumsy excuse,

Perhaps it’s when we’ve let our tongue run wild and loose.

Or gawkiness, ungainliness and a trifle of sloppiness

Create a need for a wild narrative to your spouse, sister, or boss.

Never you mind though—maladroitness and gracelessness

Are common conditions afflicted upon all humans, more or less.

So if you find yourself wondering why

At times you totter about like a child who’s knee-high,

Remember, age and time play tricks on you and I.

Rusticity, unwieldy, and lacking in dexterity may become your alibi,

Ignore the onlookers when you’ve stumbled and bruised your thigh,

Thumb your nose at them and say this repetitively with your head held high:

Mares eat oats and does eat oats and little lambs eat ivy.

~~~~

An original poem by Marilyn White

http://marilynwhite.tateauthor.com