The Not So Flappy Bat
Many moons ago, in a cave that is no longer a home. Lived a family of bats, who's presence was far from unknown. Because this family was large, and quite noisy all through the night. And all the other animals could not sleep, no matter how hard they tried. Not the bears in the woods, or the rabbits in their dens, Those noisy and nocturnal bats did their heads in. But amongst this large family of loud, rowdy bats, Was one little fellow who did not act as the others did act. He was quiet and timid and did not cause trouble at night, He sat and he pondered about the world around him, about life. The other bats teased him and called him cruel names, Like Dodo and Chicken and Flightless and Lame. For the reason he was so quiet and had time to think about life, Was that this little bat lacked the ability to fly. He had tried oh so hard in his earlier days, He flapped his wings desperately trying to fly through the cave. But he couldn't achieve it, not one single time, So he quit, he gave in, and he no longer tried. But this lead to a change in that little bats heart, It made me aware, empathetic, and quite smart. For all the other bats would sleep all through the day, And go and cause ruckus and mischief once the sun slipped away. They'd all group together, and blanket the night sky, Waking as many resting residence of the forest as they liked. They all got their kick, and that was all that they needed, They cared nothing for others, or the way they were treated. But during this time, the flightless fellow revelled, He waddled out of the cave and through the forest he ventured. He talked to the bears, as they licked honey from their claws, And he chuckled with rabbits while they hopped on fours. He made friends all through the forest, with the badgers, and the snakes. And he made friends with the bees, who's home the bears did just take. He grew to love the forest and the peace of the day, He loved the idea of being up when the whole world was awake. But he always felt bad, with every new friend he met, For they cursed and swore at him for every nights sleep he'd wrecked. And he had to explain, that it was his brothers and sisters to blame, And that this little bat was not flappy, or loud, but was quiet and tame. And they all asked the same question, every one that he met, Can you quieten your family, can you help me get rest? The not so flappy fellowh+, had long prepared his reply, He'd say, how can I silence one hundred bats, when I can't even fly? And he'd waddle back home, and sneak into the cave, And then he'd sleep all through the night while the others drove the whole forest insane. But on this night, he just could not sleep, he felt what the forest felt and that made his heart weak. How do they all stand it, he cried to himself, My whole family is causing this community hell, I may not be able to fly, nor may I be loud, But I will bring peace to the forest and make my friends proud. So early that morning, whilst all the bats slept, He went into the forest and talked with everyone that he met. He asked the bear, how loud he could roar, The bear replied, loud enough to make all the trees fall. He asked all the birds, how loud they could sing, They said their songs travelled further than westerly winds. He talked to the rabbits, and asked what they'd do, They thought briefly, then decided that they had no clue. So he went on to the bees, and asked about their homes, And they all agreed they wanted somewhere the bears would not go. And with all of these answers, in the little bats mind had formed A plan that would fix all the problems that his family had caused. So he made his way home, flapping his wings in delight, He waddled into the cave , and happily slept all through the night. The other bats went out, screeching and doing their usual wrong doings, But the whole forest slept, because they had big plans for the morning. The bats were confused by the lack of shouting and distress, And as the sun eased up from the horizon, they went back home to rest. Only this they did not achieve, because they were all startled awake, For all around them, the cave walls did shake. As an alrighty roar, filled the cave right to the door, LEAVE US TO SLEEP, OR YOU SHALL SLEEP NO MORE. The bear trundled away, feeling content, And he lay under a tree and then in the birds went. They sung all of their songs, every one that they know. They sung in notes high, and sung in notes low. And the bats could not sleep, not shut one single eye, They were angry and frustrated and started to cry. Why do you wake us, why must you all be so loud? Can't a bat sleep? You can't be here, this cave is ours! Then the rabbits came in, not by the dozens, but by the hundreds, And all through the cave the stomping of their little feet thundered, ENOUGH, WE CANT TAKE IT, YOU'RE ALL SUCH AN OBNOXIOUS CROWD. WE'RE OUT OF HERE, THERE'S BETTER CAVES TO DWELL THAT ARE FAR FROM BEING THIS LOUD. So in the bright of the day, all of the bats fled, They flew through the skies, unsure where they would head. All bar one little bat, our flappy, flightless fellow. Who stayed with his friends, in the forest he now called home. And as for the bees, they moved into tree near the cave, That the bears could not reach, and there they did stay. The forest was quiet, all through the night, and everyone slept, peaceful and tight. Except for the crickets, who chirped endlessly all night, But that was calming and peaceful, and everyone agreed it was alright. And that my dear love, is the story of one little bat, Who though could not fly, was smart and made a big act, To prove that love is not in blood but in bond, And that giving to those who give to you is what makes love strong.
