The Hippo And The Mosquito Poem by Gregory Huyette

The huge happy hippo asked his mosquito friend,
“Why must you sting when it does nothing but offend?
Your bites really hurt and then they itch for days.
Think of something new and try to change your ways.
The sweet honey bee has a stinger much like you,
But instead of causing pain, helps flowers paint a view.
Can’t you turn that stinger into a thing for good?
Please stop all the suffering and do as you should!

The munching mosquito landed on the hippo and said,
If I don’t sting every day, no doubt I’ll soon be dead.
Blood is my diet so I must sting each and every day.
I know you eat just plants, but I can’t be that way.
Hurting others is the only way that I can live.
I depend on others and the suffering that I give.

Huge hippo understood what the munching mosquito said.
Then thought to himself, “Maybe he’d be better dead! ”
Just then hip hippo had an idea for this bug.
He said, “Maybe all your poison could be made into a drug.
Snakes have used their venom to make medicines for good.
You can help all those suffering as you know you should.
If you can be like the snakes, you’ll bring happiness and bliss.
Then each hurtful, itchy bite will be like a friendly kiss.
As for your diet, if you smile and bring cheer,
Maybe, instead of blood, you’ll start to like root beer! ”