E.T. at Home

With his spaceship in orbit around Planet Earth,
E.T. spawned an idea which he gladly gave birth.
He decided to visit a dude ranch down there,
to sit high in the saddle and breathe country air.

He descended to Earth where he clipped an oak branch;
he was not very far from the Dixie Dude Ranch.
This was Texas and he was impressed with the State;
Home, he said to himself, ‘cause he thought it was great.

He walked to the front door, saw a button and pushed;
Dixie answered the door, thought this poor guy looked bushed.
E.T.’s eyes glistened as he tossed Dixie a grin;
in her quaint country accent, she welcomed him in.

There were saddles and stirrups and horseshoes around;
E.T. oohed and he aahed ‘bout the dude ranch he found.
E.T. saw a sunroom--there, he figured he’d bask.
Dixie thought he was foreign but she did not ask.

The next morning at breakfast E.T. munched on toast;
in his alien tongue he said thanks to his host.
There were others around giving handshakes and hugs;
E.T.’s presence caused big eyes and dismissive shrugs.

E.T. quickened his step as he made for the door;
Dixie graciously offered him, and the rest, S’more.
But of course they were all anxious to take a ride;
so they all thought it best for the S’mores to abide.

Now the horses were stately and ready with rein;
an emotional alien oohed once again.
E.T. hopped in the saddle beneath banyan trees;
to the others, he seemed to hop to it with ease.

Thus they rode in the sunshine beneath Texas skies;
every now and then whinnies and neighs would arise.
And the language of foreigners mixed with the wind;
sitting high in the saddle, E.T. merely grinned.

Later on they arrived at a babbling brook;
E.T. cautiously gave the surroundings a look.
He was tempted to empower his horse to fly,
but instead he with horse crossed the brook with a sigh.

They returned home where Dixie prepared a repast;
all the others relaxed around E.T. at last.
E.T. thought, Despite regions of space that I roam,
as an alien, here on Earth, I feel at home.


40 Lines
Anapestic Tetrameter
Writer’s Cramp Winner
10-24-15