Sestina Day 34: Piggy’s ambition.

Written on a car trip to London. Thanks are due to another Emma, who’s nearly 5, and obligingly focused on fighting carsickness long enough to suggest six words for me.

Once upon a time, there was a piggy
Whose best friend was a purple unicorn.
One day she shouted “Uni!” very loud
And when Uni looked up, she gave a wave.
“what’s up?” he asked. “I want to be a star”
Said piggy, “and become an astronaut.”

“why do you want to be an astronaut?
you are a very silly little piggy!
Only a unicorn can be a star.
Pigs can’t go into space!” said Unicorn.
And laughed and gave his horn a little wave.
I don’t think you would even be allowed

To go inside the rocket! You’re too loud
And dirty to become an astronaut.”
Piggy sat down and then she felt a wave
Of sadness which swept right over her piggy
Self. She was not like the unicorn:
Unusual enough to be a star.

“perhaps you’re right: I’ll never be a star”
She sighed “I wouldn’t be allowed.
What would I do without a unicorn
To tell me not to be an astronaut?”
And Unicorn looked at his friend the piggy
Who stared, dejected at each ocean wave,

And said “maybe in your case they will waive
The rules and you can go and bestar.
Don’t give up hope, you’re such a clever piggy!
Let’s go to NASA, neigh and squeal real loud,
Until they let you be an astronaut”
And so the piggy and the unicorn

The piggy and her friend the unicorn
Both neighed and squealed and Grunted stamped and waved.
Until somebody said “that pig’s a star!
We need a little mascot astronaut,
Let’s take her into space, if we’re allowed!
And Unicorn said “goodbye, little piggy!”

“My friend’s an astronaut” boasts Unicorn
While high above Piggy looks down to wave.
Now she’s a star. with joy she squeals aloud.