Yellow and black.
That’s what I am.
Yellow and black.
They think they see.
~
They all think
that gold and red
is brave, bold,
and chivalrous,
with nerves beyond compare.
They dare to try
all that is new.
~
Blue and bronze
is very wise,
with wits and learning
minds.
They think of only
clever thoughts.
~
Silver and green,
ambitious folk,
contain a certain cunning.
Their resourcefulness
and leadership
make them deadly foes.
~
But what about
the yellow
and what about
the black?
~
To the blue,
and the green,
and the gold and the silver;
to the red and the bronze:
~
Black and yellow are
not that smart, wise,
witty, clever, or
of a learning mind.
~
Nor are they bold,
brave, of great nerve
Or chivalry abounding.
~
They have not ambition,
or cunning, or leadership
galore. Resourcefulness
escapes them, of
all complete utterness.
~
But black and yellow
to the yellow and black
are seen for what they are.
~
Patient, true, hardworking,
with a sweetness so endearing.
No matter if you hail from glen,
or wild moor abounding,
or even if you hail from fen
or valley stretching broad,
those of yellow and
those of black
will treat you just the same.
~
And if you choose
to do a wrong,
judge you they will not.
For through all fires
that burn eternal,
and through all storms that rage;
through the very bitter end,
their loyalty remains.
~
And if you have their loyalty,
you also have their love.
And with that love comes
forgiveness, each and every day.
~
The eagle sees not
with its sharp eye,
the badger’s secret plan.
Nor does the snake
see what awaits
his loner tendency.
And the lion roars
so loud, that when
the badger does not flee,
all mistake this simple act
for stupidity.
~
Only the badger
can truly see
the marvelous work of art
that is painted by those
who share
the yellow and the black.
~
For what is done
is simple really;
a tiny little task.
The black and yellow badgers
have done a little deed.
~
They teach kindness
to all they meet,
despite what others think,
and offer whatever else they can,
to help a criminal.
~
Or maybe it’s a little beast,
that has some toxic spike,
or a dragon that’s so big
you cannot see its end.
~
Or maybe it is just a kid,
who never did a wrong,
but whoever needs their help,
the badgers will make strong.
~
When asked about the weather
in a great big lightning storm,
they comment on the lovely way
rainbows come at dawn.
~
When shown a gruesome picture,
they look towards its sun,
finding all the light there is
in every little thing.
~
But blue, and silver,
and green and red,
and bronze and gold, too.
They never see this anymore,
only the absurdity.
~
So here I am to tell you,
about this horrid thing.
~
For while the badgers,
strong and true,
fight for all that’s good,
they’re seen as the “drip-tray”
and punished for their smiles.
They’re taunted by the ones
they protect at all costs,
and pushed down
for never doing the same.
They’re teased and they’re prodded
for not flaunting their many talents,
since humility often
comes with their
wonderful smiles.
~
So when you think of
the yellow and black,
remember why they are.
~
When you hit
and kick
and scratch
and bite
and claw
and scream
and roar;
when you show your raging eyes
and bare your gnashing teeth;
when you lower your crooked horns
that glimmer at the knifed-tips,
they will not fight back.
Not if you are struggling,
and they’re the only target.
~
So when their skin breaks
and they bleed without
and within;
when they go deaf from
the noise,
and stare at the charging,
know that they will not recoil,
nor will they back down.
~
And if you truly look
at them,
when all is said and done,
the bruise will not be blue
or purple,
which means that it is normal.
~
Instead you will see
black and yellow, the worst
of all to see.
For black means that the
hit was hard,
and takes a lot of healing.
But as a badger heals so fast,
the yellow comes so quickly.
~
And that is why you must know
that for the black
and yellow to remain
for oh-so very long,
they must not have been hit
just once,
or at one time or place,
nor is it by one person,
for they are not everywhere.
~
For there to be a constant
pattern of black and yellow,
the blows that strike down the strong
and true
and brave
and wise
and honest
and cunning
and creative
and daring
must not have stopped coming.











