The delightful joy of children’s imagination and fascination with story thrills my soul. The child’s heart responds in kind, and if it were not for my compelling ministry of the unadulterated word for "souls-on-the-journey," I would linger with the children long past our playtime. Pieces written to and for them teach about "treasuring and cherishing" the creation and all creatures; we are all children as well--enjoy them.
Percival the Pickpocket
for Gene, Deb, Seth and Kate
Percy is a dachshund
a "hotdog dog" we call him
He loves to climb into your lap
before you even call him.
He loves to bark at every door
and drag the cushions cross the floor.
He loves to "yip" and then to "yap"
And get his scolding "just like that!"
But most of all this Percy-dog,
this Percival Hound, this "hot dog dog"--
most of all he hugs the ground and sneaks
under the chair and creeps around
till he finds a treasure--
an open satchel, a woman's purse, a brown
paper bag or even worse--this Percy-dog,
this Percival Hound, this "hot dog dog"
lying flat on the ground . . .
why he sticks his long snout right into
your pocket and whatever he finds--
well you just ought to lock it!
Percy hightails it right out of the room
with everyone chasing from dawn until noon,
or all day long--if you let him lounge
'neath your chair or your legs, or the table or couch--
You must watch out when Percy's around
the dog is a pickpocket--a rascal, a clown
a Percy-the-Pickpocket-comical hound!
Norma Blacke Bourdeau
March, 1999
