The NO

Some thought the No was allergic to Yes –
For his answer to every question addressed,
Was a loud, angry “No!”; he would not acquiesce.
“No!” was the only response he’d profess.

Could you please pass the salt?
“No!” he would say.
How ‘bout an ice cream?
“No and no way!”
Join us for dinner at Maria’s Café?
“No, no, and no! Niene, nah, and nay!”

He never would budge, his answer was set.
Never a “Maybe” or “Yeah” or “You bet!”
He didn’t care if he made you upset;
He threw “No’s” to the wind without care or regret.

Wanna come to my party?
“My answer is NO!”
There’s a dance this weekend…
“How NO can you go?”
Come see my play!  It’s a one monster show!
“I DESPISE theatre!  No, no and Noh.”

He was known as the NO – Big N and Big O
A name very fitting and quite apropo.
But the NO didn’t know, no, he just didn’t know,
That just saying “No!” made his life just ‘so-so.’

“No!” meant he’d never have his first kiss
And “No!” meant he’d never know chocolate as bliss.
For each “No!” he shouted meant he would miss
Trying out “that” and experiencing “this.”

So we caution you, reader, be careful with “No!”
And how many “No’s” you choose to bestow.
If you want to progress, to learn and to grow,
You’ll have to say “YES!” and see where you’ll go.

11 comments

  • January 21, 2013 at 4:40 am // Reply

    I love this! 🙂

  • January 22, 2013 at 2:41 am // Reply

    Lovely.

  • January 23, 2013 at 11:53 pm // Reply

    The No monster needs to meet a Yes monster and they should get married!

    • January 23, 2013 at 11:54 pm // Reply

      But then the No monster will say “NO, I don’t want to get married!”

  • January 24, 2013 at 8:29 pm // Reply

    John- I love your poems and this one is seriously great. It reminds of my favorite childhood book, Where the Sidewalk Ends.

    • January 24, 2013 at 8:37 pm // Reply

      Thanks Christi! Carolyn, Kyle, and I really love this guy as well. 🙂

  • January 25, 2013 at 9:41 pm // Reply

    Auntie C and gang,
    YES we love NO!

  • February 6, 2013 at 3:15 pm // Reply

    Thanks for all of the nice comments!

  • February 8, 2013 at 9:53 pm // Reply

    Extraordinary poem, and soooooo true.

  • November 24, 2014 at 5:34 pm // Reply

    No, don’t stop writing more stories and songs. P.S. I love the picture too!

  • April 10, 2015 at 5:20 pm // Reply

    Excited to declare, “Yes!” This is absolute genius.

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