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
Leave a Reply
Rebecca Morris
January 21, 2013 at 4:40 am //
I love this! 🙂
m l l
January 22, 2013 at 2:41 am //
Lovely.
Diya and Jeena
January 23, 2013 at 11:53 pm //
The No monster needs to meet a Yes monster and they should get married!
Diya and Jeena
January 23, 2013 at 11:54 pm //
But then the No monster will say “NO, I don’t want to get married!”
christi harrison
January 24, 2013 at 8:29 pm //
John- I love your poems and this one is seriously great. It reminds of my favorite childhood book, Where the Sidewalk Ends.
john
January 24, 2013 at 8:37 pm //
Thanks Christi! Carolyn, Kyle, and I really love this guy as well. 🙂
Emily Adeyemi
January 25, 2013 at 9:41 pm //
Auntie C and gang,
YES we love NO!
Kyle Bice
February 6, 2013 at 3:15 pm //
Thanks for all of the nice comments!
Elizabeth Francisco
February 8, 2013 at 9:53 pm //
Extraordinary poem, and soooooo true.
Stella and Her grandma
November 24, 2014 at 5:34 pm //
No, don’t stop writing more stories and songs. P.S. I love the picture too!
Bill D
April 10, 2015 at 5:20 pm //
Excited to declare, “Yes!” This is absolute genius.