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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Cat and Dog (09/04/14)

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• TITLE: What Truly Happened | Previous Challenge Entry
  By Diane M. Bowman
  09/07/14
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What Truly Happened
A response to ‘The Duel’

You’ve heard the story, by clever poet told,
(The truth of which, has been by many extolled.)
Of the gingham dog and the calico cat,
How once, side by side, on the table they sat.
But you must know, it scarcely gives a glimpse
Of what truly happened between those two imps.

The Chinese plate and his friend the Old Dutch clock,
Sure missed a few things when they began to squawk.
Since they fashioned their tale so eloquently,
A common chap might miss their conspiracy.
(A word to the wise, you ought never to trust
The declarations of things that gather dust.)

The truth of this tale can certainly be found,
Although, over time deception’s gained ground.
It began prior to the common report,
Even if many such arguments fall short.
The owner of plate and clock gave them a chore,
“Be careful! Don't let my pets run out the door.”

Now, the clock and plate were an envious pair
For he poured attention on his pets with flair.
The spiteful Dutch clock and the sly Chinese plate
Plotted by whispers those privileged pets' fate.
They schemed and schemed until they figured it out.
They had a plan that would work, without a doubt.

But when they turned again to face their victims,
Gingham dog and calico cat were missing.
Paw prints of cat and dog, from table to door,
Swiftly brought to mind the words they’d heard before.
As they recollected their owner’s decree,
A second plot became a necessity.

In desperation to have something to say,
Plate and clock devised the tale we hear today.
Sadly, the owner believed their deception
And on clock and plate poured out his affection.
Blinded by their trickery, in a foul mood,
He never once the cat or dog pursued.

What had happened to gingham and calico?
This is the tale you’ve waited so long to know.
The two ran over the hills and far away
To a place forgotten by many today.
In the garden of Shut-Eye Town, filled with glee,
They romped in the shade of the Sugar-Plum tree.

There they were greeted by the Little Boy Blue,
With his treasured dog and toy soldier, so true.
Picnicking on the shores of Lollipop Seas,
They enjoyed a feast of apple pie and cheese.
When into the harbor sailed their wooden shoe,
Wynken, Blynken, and Nod joined the happy crew.

They fished all night with nets of silver and gold,
But the rest of their fun can hardly be told,
Of the countless games, joyfully played, like Booh!
On the shores of that sea which was filled with dew.
This tale can be trusted as absolute fact,
For it was told to me by both dog and cat.



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Author’s note: Inspired by Eugene Field’s poem, ‘The Duel’ as well as several of his other works, including Little Boy Blue, “booh!,” Apple-Pie and Cheese, Wynken, Blynken, and Nod, The Sugar-Plum Tree, Over the hills and far away, and Picnic-time.

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