David+Strempel's+wonderful+poem

THE DRAGON AND THE PEARLS

Young Gerald George was old enough to go to school at last, Despite his mother's mournful tears he found himself in class. His teacher was a caring sort who helped him work and learn, But still he knew that there was more; it left him quite concerned. He coloured in and matched the shapes and did as he was told, He worked and shared and did his best and sang of Green and Gold. Yet through all that he knew inside there must be more to learning, Young Gerald George, at early age, was really quite discerning.

The weeks went by and George learnt more of all he had to know, 'Bout how to count from 1 to 10 and how to tie a bow. He learnt to kick a ball at last - that made his father proud, And how to say his tables right and how to spell out loud. Still Gerald George was not at ease, he knew there must be more Than adding up and ruling off and lining at the door. Then one day he found himself lining up to enter Another world he'd been denied. He'd found the Resource Centre.

He'd played X-Box, Nintendo, on Gameboy and on Wii, He'd played the games on Gamecube, and Sony PS3. He'd been a cute young Sackboy who'd conquered many places, He'd raced with Super Mario and cleaned up all the aces. Gerald George had fought and won, he'd shown the world his brilliance, He'd found out at an early age what his teacher called resilience. And he had found the secret paths in games on his Playstation. He'd helped his friends, he learnt something the school called collaboration.

Yes Gerald George knew many things, he knew about Obama, But going through those 3M gates, he knew he'd found Nirvana. From wall to wall and back again, wherever he would look He saw desktops with their monitors, he saw laptops, he saw books. George could not believe his eyes, he'd found the dragon's treasure Yet he couldn't see that dragon beast, he'd have to get its measure. And then our George, he found himself upon the story mat, Still wondering where the dragon lurked and if it had a bat

His eyes grew wide, his nostrils flared; he knew the beast was near, Perhaps it hid behind the stacks; it filled the boy with fear. The Library Teacher sat right down, a story book in hand And read a tale of War and Peas set in another land. George enjoyed the little book, with t'other boys and girls And then it hit him suddenly. She was wearing pearls His heart jumped up into his throat, it filled him with distress, He knew that in some libraries, that's how those dragons dress.

As time went by, Gerald George was wary as could be, "What if she grows a tail and claws and tries to gobble me?" Yet this so-called monster showed to George amazing tricks: Define Locate and Synthesise, a thing called the Big Six. He knew that he had found at last what he was searching for: A key to use the info gained and open up the door, To learn to learn and research and get himself top scores. And in that time, young Gerald George had only one complaint, He thought the Library Teacher should have been made a saint.

So when you read the headlines and stories in the press, Don't always think they're accurate or gospel truth unless You have learnt from Gerald George, applied the Big Six test And organised and synthesised and ticked off all the rest. 'Cos hiding in the Library, they're plainly on display, Are pearls of wisdom there for you each and every day. Remember how young Gerald George and all the boys and girls Found inspiration in their Library from a 'dragon' wearing pearls.

David Strempel. (Used with permission from the author)