A Hole In The Road (Inspired By The Gruffalo) Poem by Charles Wiles (Best Love Poems)

A mouse took a stroll down a long leafy road
Whistling to himself after visiting toad.
Lunch had been tasty, with his favourite food,
Acorn soup from the deep dark wood.

He was making good time when he came to a stop
For there in the road was a rather big drop.
An enormous gap was barring his way,
A hole in the road, well what can you say?

Mouse scratched his head and was about to go on
When his good friend hare came bounding along.
'Good evening mouse, I say, are you stumped?
Just follow my lead! ' And over he jumped.

Mouse called to his friend as he bounced away
'Many thanks dear hare, but there's an easier way.'

Mouse raised one foot and looked round about
As there in the ground mole's head popped out.
'Good evening mouse, this hole looks big!
Just follow me down! ' And he started to dig.

Mouse called to his friend as he tunneled away
'Many thanks dear mole, but there's an easier way.'

Mouse checked left and right, then took one pace
And found he was staring right in otter's face!
'Good evening mouse, I have water on tap! '
And he filled up the hole and dove into the gap.

Mouse called to his friend as he swam fast away.
'Many thanks dear otter, but there's an easier way.'

Mouse tested the water, it wasn't too bad,
When frog leaped out onto a broad lily pad.
'Good evening mouse, let's test my new raft.
Just hop on board.' And he pushed off his craft.

Mouse called to his friend as he paddled away.
'Many thanks dear frog, but there's an easier way.'

Mouse gazed at the pond and almost fell in
When beaver crept up and quite startled him!
'Good evening mouse, lets build a bridge.
I'll gather some branches from that nearby ridge.'

Mouse called to his friend as he beavered away,
'Many thanks dear beaver, but there's an easier way.'

Mouse looked around and who did he see,
But squirrel with a rope scuttling down an oak tree.
'Good evening mouse, are you at a loss?
Just hold on tight.' And he swung straight across.

Mouse called to his friend as he swung away,
'Many thanks dear squirrel, but there's an easier way.'

Mouse asked himself 'Who next will come by? '
When pigeon dropped down from the sunset sky.
'Good evening mouse, do you need a ride?
Just climb on top, we'll fly from this side.'

Mouse called to his friend as he flapped away,
'Many thanks dear pigeon, but there's an easier way.'

Mouse looked to the left and then to the right
He didn't want to wait for the next small fright.
The hole was deep, but it wasn't very wide,
So mouse just walked around the side.

Mouse smiled to himself as he strolled on past,
'That wasn't so hard, I can eat at last.'

A mouse took a stroll down a long leafy road
Whistling to himself after visiting toad.
It was time for tea, with his favourite food,
Acorn soup from the deep dark wood.

...

Now watching from the hedge was an old gruffalo
Who said out loud, 'Why didn't you know?
There's an easier way to reach your goal'
And in one great stride, stepped over the hole.

(December 2007)