Go Up, Billy Goat

A long nursery ballad about a billy goat exploring the scope of his world. Inspired by several stuffed animals.

Go Up, Billy Goat

 

The Billy Goat jump’d onto the rock,

To see what he could see.

“Maa-maa,” said the Billy Goat,

Shaking his beard,

“’Tis all the wide world I see!”

 

The Froggy sat on the lily pad,

And laugh’d as he did see.

“Ribbit,” croak’d the hoppy Frog,

Rolling his eyes,

“There’s a bigger world to see.”

 

“Skip up the round hill, above my pond,”

Froggy to Goat didst say.

“Maa-maa,” said the Billy Goat,

Thanking the Frog,

And, skipping, went on his way.

 

The Billy Goat skipp’d up to the top,

To see what he could see.

“Maa-maa,” said the Billy Goat,

Shaking his beard,

“Now all the wide world I see!”

 

The tall Moose stood in the  marshy swamp,

And laugh’d as he did see.

“Whar-oom!” roar’d the long-legg’d Moose,

Antlers       a-shake,

“There’s more of the world to see.”

 

“Climb the steep mountain, above my swamp,”

Tall Moose to Goat didst say.

“Maa-maa,” said the Billy Goat,

Climbing the crags,

“Thanks, Moose, for your help today.”

The Billy Goat climb’d the mountain high,

To see what he could see.

“Maa-maa,” said the Billy Goat,

Shaking his beard,

“Surely, all the world I see!”

 

The little Bear lay on a tree limb,

And laugh’d as he did see.

“Grr-growl,” growl’d the little Bear,

Stretching his claws.

“There’s more of the world to see.”

 

“Climb to the top of the tall pine tree,

Brown Bear to  Goat didst say.

“Maa-maa,” said the Billy Goat,

Clamb’ring aloft,

Munching branches in the way.

 

The Billy Goat scrambl’d up the tree,

To see what he could see.

“Maa-maa,” said the Billy Goat,

Shaking his beard,

“All the wide world I can see!”

 

A sleepy Owl flew close ‘bove the tree,

And laugh’d as she did see.

“Twoo-woo,” hooted out the Owl,

Seeking her bed.

“There’s much more for you to see.”

 

“Run up the curve of the bright rainbow,”

Wise Owl to Goat didst say.

“Maa-maa,” said the Billy Goat,

Mounting the ‘bow,

With the colors all shiny.

 

The Billy Goat ran up in the sky,

To see what he could see.

“Maa-maa,” said the Billy Goat,

Shaking his beard.

All the wide world he could see!

 

Robin Redbreast flew singing nearby,

And laugh’d as he did see.

“Chirp, chirp,” sang the fine, bright bird,

Flicking his tail,

“It’s late, Goat, the sunset see!”

 

“Run home to your bed; you saw the world,”

Robin to Goat didst say.

“Maa-maa,” said the Billy Goat,

Gazing below,

“I see ‘tis truth that you say.”

 

The Billy Goat look’d down the rainbow,

To see the tall pine tree.

“Maa-maa,” said the Billy Goat,

Hurrying down,

“The sky’s too high up for me!”

 

Bear’s pine tree stood in the woods that ran

Right down to Moose‘s swamp.

“Maa-maa,” said the Billy Goat,

Scrambling down boughs,

“’Tis too late for climbing trees!”

 

The Billy Goat stood atop the hill,

And saw the swamp below.

“Maa-maa,” said the Billy Goat,

Yawning so wide,

“I still have so far to go!”

 

The marshy swamp stretch’d down to the pond,

With lily pads so green.

“Maa-maa,” said the Billy Goat,

Scamp‘ring along,

“Enough of the world I’ve seen!”

 

The Billy Goat walk’d a long the shore,

And came at last to home.

“Maa-maa,” yawn’d the Billy Goat,

Shaking his beard,

“No more away shall I roam!”

 

Froggy slept on his green lily pad,

Moose slept in the wet swamp,

Bear slept high in the tall tree,

Dreaming good dreams,

Keeping warm, out of the damp.

 

Sleepy Owl slept all through the long day,

And woke when the moon rose.

Robin Redbreast sang until

The sun went down,

Then he in his nest didst doze.

 

The Billy Goat lay upon the grass,

To sleep in the meadow.

“Maa-maa,” sigh’d the Billy Goat,

Closing his eyes;

He was a tired fellow!

Author's Note

Initial reactions and constructive criticism welcome. I know it's long, and a couple of rhymes aren't perfect.