Longing to Belong ~ Worried Walter Unburdens his Heart

 

Worried Walter  

By Susan J Meyerott

Worried Walter sat in the weeds,

 All the time wondering 

'what's to become of me?'  

When two wandering dogs 

came and sat by his side and said, 

"We're just very, very glad you're alive!"

Dance by the light of the Moon

And the spirits and dogs 

danced by the light of the moon,

 The moon, they danced by the silvery moon.

But Worried Walter refuses to dance 

while others laugh and play.

 Instead, he sits among the weeds​

 And worries his night away.

Poor Worried Walter sits this one out

to brood in his corner of the weeds.

No Waltzing Matilda, no Polonaise,

 no ring around the rosy, 

no pocket full of posies.

 What’s going on with Walter? 

What do you suppose-y?

Sitting in Silence

Worried Walter sat still in the weeds

Separate and apart from fun company.

Waltzing Matilda and her dog, Sam,

Note Walter’s shyness

So, join him in silence

 To lend him a hand.

 

What's Wrong? Matilda asks Gently

After a while, Matilda speaks.

 “What’s Wrong, Walter? Can you tell me, please?”

 

“There’s nothing really wrong’, he says to me. 

‘It’s just how I am, so just let me be.”

 

“I worry and worry myself into a pout, 

and all the while I don’t really know what it’s about.”

Unburden Your Heart

But after a long quiet moment,

 and shedding some tears, 

Walter unburdens his heart. 

He opens his mouth and speaking out loud,

all his hidden fears come pouring out.

 

And in a cloak of compassion, 

Matilda sits at his knee

to hear Walter’s confession of insecurity.

 

“I fear no one will like me just as I am. 

My nose is too big and I have clumsy hands.

 

I have two left feet when it comes to dancing, you see,

 so, I’d rather not do it and have everyone laugh at me. 

Longing to Belong

“When I watch the others enjoying themselves, 

they look so lovely to see. 

It’s almost like magic 

how they become such great company.”

 

“The labracadabrador dogs wag their magical tails, 

and the lighthearted birds sing lyrical songs. 

They create such a spirited happy place 

where everyone feels they belong.”

.

“They laugh and guffaw with each dip and swirl,

like they’ve got not a care in the whole wide world.”

 

“The laughing Hyenas laugh with such glee, 

and the wolves enjoy a howl with abandon, 

but not me. 

They’re having a dog-gone good time 

lapping it up, 

dancing by the silvery moon.”

 

“But I’m left sitting alone in the weeds, 

feeling unloved and abandoned, you see.”

The Ease of Fitting In

“The towering trees sway 

with the cool evening breeze,

while the logs make cozy love nests.”

 

“The fairies sparkle with grace 

as they fly through the air,

and the snakes are slithering smoothly.”

 

“They so confidently fit in with each other 

under a sky of stars.”

 

“What is it they know that I don’t? 

Could you tell me this please?”

Waltzing Matilda Kindly Advises 

“Oh, my sweet Worried Walter, now I can see,

what has you sitting alone in the weeds,

sad and longing for company.”

 

Perhaps I can help you out of your sad quandary

By showing you a friendlier way to see.

 

I’ll tell you a secret that’ll help you along,

And pull you out of your doldrums.

 

You must learn to correct 

your most natural fault to

To see others as better than thee.

 

You are perfectly made as everyone else.

You are perfect just as you are!

  

Hearing from Others

“You’re built just right to fit in this world,

If only you change how you see.

There is a problem that must be corrected,

one that will set you free.

 

We all have differences and imperfections,

but that’s what makes us special you see.

 

You must learn to enjoy your differences

and to take yourself lightly—

So you dance through life more freely.

Continue to see the brightness in others,

but look for your own brightness too.”

 

I think you’ll learn best if you hear from the others--

how they’ve found their way in the world, too.

Advice from the Fairies

You must take yourself lightly,

But your life seriously 

if happy you are to be.

Find ways to have fun with who you are

Then you’ll have lots of company.

Wizards, giants, elves and fairies

like to tell jokes about themselves, you see.

What’s the first thing wizards do in the morning?

Wake Up!

What do you call a fairy who doesn’t like to bathe?

Stinkerbell!

What kind of photos do elves take?

Elfies!

How do you talk to a giant?

Use BIG words.

Advice from the Dogs

Live life enthusiastically.

Never miss an opportunity to

Wag your tail.

Be silly.

Wag your labracadabra tail 

at silly dog jokes,

We don’t mind them at all.

 

Why are dogs terrible dancers?

They have two left feet!

Advice from the Birds

Sing your own song,

Sing happily. Help others sing along.

Accept that you always belong to the flock,

Hop right in to join us in song.

When do ducks wake up?

At the quack of dawn.

Why do ducks have tail feathers?

To cover their buttquacks.

What do you call two birds in love?

Tweethearts!

Advice from the Trees

Freely sway to the music in the air

And strive to provide shade to all beings.

Bend to caress,

Others with less,

When you’re tired 

just rest under a dogwood tree.

Leaf well enough alone.

After you’re sad, come sit beside us,

Let it all go and let it all be.

Why are dogwood trees such wonderful pets?

They have a great bark but wooden bite.

What did the beaver say to the tree?

Been nice gnawing you!

Happy Again

Worried Walter cracks a smile

As his worries come crashing down.

His frown turns into a grin

As silliness takes hold once again.

“Let me be happy,

Please let me grin,

Let me laugh and giggle again,

Let me be silly,

Let me be loved,

Let me be comforted and hugged.

Thank You Waltzing Matilda!

Worried Walter came out of his shell,

And thanked Waltzing Matilda

For helping him feel so well.

He now understands

he may have moments of sadness 

that come for a spell,

But nevertheless, 

he belongs here as well.

No need to worry about the size of

His feet, hands or nose,

He allows others to welcome him 

wherever he goes.

And now Walter has a few jokes 

to share with others too!

Silliness abounds, especially for you!

Thank you for helping Walter find his way

 To see himself for what he is—

Perfect exactly as he is!

Do you sometimes feel like Walter too—

Out of sorts and a little blue?

Then perhaps Walter’s story helped you!

Who's Hiding Here?

It’s perfectly right 

we should have different sizes and shapes,

And different manners of speech.

If the world is to be fun

We must embrace our differences, you see.

 

Some beings are BIG and some beings are small,

While some are very elongated.

Some beings are quiet and some beings loud,

And some are expressive with silly faces.

While some loudly ROAR,

Some talk in hisses and some just give kisses,

And some might sing you a song.

 

So it’s time for this story to end by

you finding your friends

in the forest alongside Matilda and Walter.

Can you find snakes and hyenas, and fairies and giants 

and maybe a bird or two? 

Don’t forget Dogs, wolves, 

and beavers and trees-

And maybe an elf or two--

And what about you?

We bid you adieu cause Walter’s story is through,

And he sends you sweet dreams for a good night too!