#fallingup

MORGAN'S CURSE

Followin' the trail on the old treasure map, I came to the spot that said "Dig right here." And four feet down my spade struck wood Just where the map said a chest would appear. But carved in the side were written these words: "A curse upon he who disturbs this gold." Signed, Morgan the Pirate, Scourge of the Seas. I read these words and my blood ran cold. So here I sit upon untold wealth Tryin' to figure which is worse: How much do I need this gold? And how much do I need this curse? [Drawing: person sitting on chest with shovel]

MY ROBOT I told my robot to do my biddin'. He yawned and said, "You must be kiddin'." I told my robot to cook me a stew. He said, "I got better things to do." I told my robot to sweep my shack. He said, "You want me to strain my back?" I told my robot to answer the phone. He said, "I must make some calls of my own. I told my robot to brew me some tea. He said, "Why don't you make tea for me?" I told my robot to boil me an egg. He said, "First -- lemme hear you beg." I told my robot, "There's a song you can play me.' He said, "How much are you gonna pay me?" So I sold that robot, 'cause I never knew Exactly who belonged to who. [Drawing: robot lounging with drink in hand; a girl offers it a tray of food and drink] THE VOICE There is a voice inside of you That whispers all day long, "I feel that this is right for me, I know that this is wrong." No teacher, preacher, parent, friend Or wise man can decide What's right for you -- just listen to The voice that speaks inside.

WEIRD-BIRD [Drawing: happy looking bird flying towards us] Birds are flyin' south for winter. Here's the Weird-Bird headin' north, Wings a-flappin, beak a-chatterin, Cold head bobbin' back 'n' forth. He says, "It's not that I like ice Or freezin' winds and snowy ground. It's just sometimes it's kind of nice To be the only bird in town.

SHARING I'll share your toys, I'll share your money, I'll share your toast, I'll share your honey, I'll share your milk and your cookies too -- The hard part's sharing mine with you. [Drawing: two children pulling on the arms of a teddy bear] WRITER WAITING [Drawing: child wearing glasses sitting on the floor in front of a computer keyboard and monitor; the electrical cord from the computer stretches across the bottom of the next page to the plug, where it has an eel's head, instead of a plug] Oh this shiny new computer -- There just isn't nothin' cuter. It knows everything the world ever knew. And with this great computer I don't need no writin' tutor, 'Cause there ain't a single thing that it can't do. It can sort and it can spell, It can punctuate as well. It can find and file and underline and type. It can edit and select, It can copy and correct, So I'll have a whole book written by tonight (just as soon as it can think of what to write).