With appreciation and apologies to Dr. Seuss!
Now the Star-Belly Runners
Had bellies with stars
The Plain-Belly Runners
had none upon thars.
Those stars weren’t so big. They were really quite small
You might not think such a thing would matter at all
But, because they had stars, all the Star-Belly Runners
Would brag, “We’re the best, just look at our bunners!”
With their snoots in the air, they would sniff and they’d snort
We’ll have nothing to do with the Plain-Belly sort!”
And whenever they met some, when they were out jawlking,
They’d jog right on past, without even talking.
When the Star-Belly Runners had frankfurter roasts
Or picnics or parties or marshmallow toasts
They never invited the Plain-Belly Runners
They just waltzed around in fanciful bunners
Then ONE day, it seems…while the Plain-Belly Runners ran
A stranger zipped up, a Real Running Man!
“My friends”, he announced in a voice clear and keen,
Those Star-Belly Runners have treated you mean
But I can fix that. I’m the Fix-It-Up Chappie
I’ll give you something to make you happy
I’ve heard of your troubles, I’ve heard you are broke
He laughed and guffawed as he lit up a smoke
I’ve come here to help you, I’ve got what you need
Not Stars or Money, you just need Speed
You’ll get Results, one hundred percent guaranteed!
Then quickly the stranger put together a plan
For every child, woman and man
For Plain-Belly Runners, those lesser sorts
Blue Collar Runners, with regular shorts
No Stars on their bellies, Regular Joes
No Frills, No Funding, That’s how it goes
Just Plain-Belly Runners from their head to their toes
Then when the Star-Belly Runners went to a race
Plain-Belly Runners started upping the pace
And the Star-Belly Runners with angry red faces
Would cast their eyes down at their shoe laces
Mumbling curses and questioning their places
The Plain-Bellies keep getting faster, Faster, FASTER
All without a Star-Belly Master
They train and train, do it the right way
And now I’m clearly quite happy to say
That the Plain-Belly Runners Rule the Day
That stranger that road into town
Helping those that others put down
He changed the ways of running and racing
“Starts and Ends with Faster Pacing!”
In Regular shorts, without fancy bunners
These Plain-Belly folk, the Very Best runners
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