Once Upon an Iceberg

Once upon an iceberg, blue
There lived a penguin named Achoo.
No different than the other fowl
Except he always wore a scowl.

Achoo didn’t socialize with the rest of the flock,
And when they tried to tempt him to talk,
He would just sigh and in a melancholy way
Say “You don’t have to pretend to like me, ok?”

Everybody hates me. The Birds in the sky, the Fish in the sea
Even this little bug, that is bothering me.
The mighty icebergs rumble with their disdain,
Life is hardly worth living, without a friend to your name

Why do you say the world hates you? a little voice said
And with a jump, Achoo saw that the bug on his head
Was talking to him. So with a groan he gave his forehead a tweak
Causing the bug to buzz briefly and move to the tip of his beak.

Why they hate me, I do not know why
But I can tell that they do, by the look in their eyes
And no matter what I say, no matter what I do,
The whole world conspires against penguins named Achoo

Maybe the world doesn’t hate you,
Maybe YOU hate you.
The little bug confessed.
The simplest answer is usually the best.

“Psha,” said Achoo, “that notion is absurd”
“Don’t speak until you’ve lived as a small, flightless bird
You can’t imagine how lonely it can be
Floating alone on a cold, icy sea!”

“Just look at me! I’m a bug!” The small insect said
“The highlight of my day is eating fish guts from your head
But do I complain? NO! Do I mope? Do I whine?
I tell myself each day that I’m doing fine!”

Love yourself Achoo! Because there is a lot there to love
Start everyday by giving yourself a warm hug!
If you honestly believe that you’re funny, clever and cute
You’ll begin to like yourself and the whole world will follow suit!

Achoo looked at the bug, so small he could hardly be seen
And looked at the huge mountains, in their white snowy sheen.
How could someone so insignificant and small
Seem in that moment to be the wisest of all!

A small, foolish grin took over his face,
As snow began falling, leaving no trace
Of the sad, chubby bird he had felt like before
He knew in his heart, that he was meant to be more!