Humpty Dumpty Reprise

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall
All the King’s horses and all the King’s men
Couldn’t put Humpty together again.

This is where the nursery rhyme ends:
Crushed to bits, no hope of amends.
So many questions remain unresolved
But here is the truth of how it evolved.

Yes, the king had horses and men,
But of course had more than just them.
He had a wife and eight kids, mostly sons;
In fact seven sons, but daughters just one.

All grown up, these seven King’s sons
Each inherited royal funds
And left the castle in hopes to pursue
Something to learn and for something to do.

And left at home all by herself,
Most often found near the bookshelf,
Was a bright young girl with Humpty for name
But “King’s only daughter” was her wide fame.

It was mom who’d named her Humpty
And the teasers added Dumpty.
Anyone kind, she was sure it was ‘cause
They knew whose talentless daughter she was.

Dad was encouraging and kind;
His smile showed he didn’t mind
That with each contest or game he unveiled
His sweet little Humpty’s true efforts failed.

But she put on her bravest face.
Still, embarrassed by each disgrace,
She felt soon it’d be all she could take:
One quiet sigh more and her heart would break.

Then that fateful day came along
Where everything was going wrong.
The King had a new game she’d have to play
But she just wasn’t in the mood today.

She went, of course, to please her King
And discovered the newest thing
Was a sport with a ball, a bat, a horse,
Two teams, and four plates on a diamond course.

Luck was on Humpty’s side at last
For she rode a horse well and fast
The rest of the game she would just survive
If she didn’t win, at least she would strive.

“Here’s the special, royal baseball,”
Said the King, with his handsome drawl.
“Whoever hits the ball and wins the game,
Gets the ball as prize and receives the fame.”

Up to bat, suited head to toe
Humpty sat on her horse Go-go,
The fastest and strongest horse in the land.
The pitcher wound up a ball in his hand,

She held the bat tight in her fists
At a slight angle from her wrists
And when the ball flew from the pitcher’s mound
Her bat swung through the air without a sound.

Strike one! Her face flushed hotly red
Miss again, she’ll wish to be dead.
The King hollered and cheered his daughter on
Somehow the sound helped her fears to be gone

Bringing the bat to the ready
Her gaze was focused and steady.
Eye on the ball she saw the pitcher wink.
Startled, now she didn’t know what to think.

The ball left the mound in a blaze
Humpty’s elbows swiveled sideways
A sharp cracking noise filled the royal grounds,
Everyone watched the ball sail out of bounds.

“So close!” yelled the King from the stands.
Humpty wiped the sweat from her hands.
She could quit now and not fail at this, too,
But if not now, when? And if not her, who?

She nodded to the pitcher’s mound
Determined to succeed this round.
The ball was pitched, she swung with all her might;
It sailed over the wall and out of sight!

The crowd cheered but Humpty’s face paled.
A lost ball meant loser, meant failed!
She gave Go-go a kick and off they went
Straight for the ball, speed one-hundred-percent.

All the king’s men on their horses
Motioned the right way the course was
But Humpty focused her eye on the wall
She absolutely had to find that ball.

At the wall they came to a stop
Humpty stood up and climbed on top
She looked over her shoulder at the crowd
Deeply hoping to make her Father proud.

Humpty clung tightly to the ledge
And peered slowly over the edge.
She quietly gasped and held back the tears
She had to go on, no matter her fears.

Bringing her limbs into a crouch
All at once she let out an “Ouch!”
Clutching her hand from the rocks beside her
Humpty looked down to see a huge spider!

Humpty began to feel quite faint
But refused to make a complaint
Instead she started to scoot far away
From where that spider determined to stay

But as she inched away from it
She quite forgot where she did sit
Losing her grip, Humpty had a great fall
And was lost from sight right over the wall

Opening her eyes to the sun
First she thought, “This game isn’t fun.”
Then the dreaded shame began to sink in
Tears formed in her eyes and slid to her chin

They dripped and then began to pour
Springing up from a shattered core
And Humpty was sure they would never end
No, not this time; her poor heart would not mend.

From somewhere above or below
She heard a noise begin to grow
A rumbling like a mighty thunderstorm
Great pounding hoofs in cadence uniform.

Here came the King’s horses again
Riding each one were the King’s men
And they would try to comfort and console
Because it was their job to make her whole.

But Humpty’s heart was broken now
And she really didn’t see how
Any kind horses or well-meaning men
Could try putting her together again

But that’s how it went, you recall:
She sat on then fell from the wall
And all the King’s horses, all the King’s men
Couldn’t put Humpty together again.

As her tears soaked into the ground
There came another rumbling sound
The men looked back and the horses made way
For the King was coming to save the day!

He scooped Humpty in an embrace
Wiping the tears from her round face
Just holding her tight, not saying a word
And only her quiet sobs could be heard.

At last when her breathing slowed down
She peered at the man with the crown
And gathered the courage to say something
So she could explain herself to the King.

But he spoke first and said, “Sweetheart,
In everything we play a part
But no one is supposed to win it all.
Sometimes we rise, a lot of times we fall

But do you know what I love most
About my girl, who never boasts?
Every time you make a mistake or fall
You get up and give the next shot your all.

And maybe you’re not the strongest
Or can’t hold your breath the longest
But you are exactly one of a kind
And your heart of gold is the greatest find.”

To hear her father tell her this
Turned discouragement into bliss
What a relief to know that just so long
As she always tried her best to be strong

Humpty would make her father proud.
Her happiness smiled out loud.
He got to his feet and held out his hand
“Okay, let’s go,” said the King of the land.

Humpty stood tall next to her dad.
Humpty’s heart was lifted and glad.
No, the King’s horses and all the King’s men
Couldn’t put Humpty together again.

It took unconditional love
From a knowing father above
To mend a heart in pieces so broken
With a few, simple, perfect words spoken.