Detours

Detours

by Michael Espinoza

Back in 1904 was he born, the boy Ted;

By the time he was six, classic stories he'd read:

It was Jonathan Swift was his favorite writer

But Ted would produce many stories far lighter.

After college, he hoped to become a professor

Of English--but fate had in store a far lesser

Profession (at least in the eyes of the world),

Yet for Ted he preferred how his life now unfurled.

He was bored by his classes and soon he dropped out

For a job at Judge magazine, which was about

Drawing funny cartoons--leading to a career

Advertising for bug spray for many a year.

The Depression began and he found himself stuck,

For his contract he'd signed was exclusive: no luck

If he tried to moonlight advertising for any

Besides Standard Oil--then he'd lose every penny.

But a lawyer looked over his contract and found

That within was a loophole just lying around:

He would not be in breach of his contract moonlighting

With kids' picture books--both the drawing and writing.

That was how the man got into kids' picture books

And his work made us all give the world some new looks--

For a half of a century bookstores were rife

With the books that he wrote for the rest of his life.

He was known for his verse (anapestic tetrameter)

And for the words he made up--for no amater

Was he, though twenty years more now ensued

Till from work advertising could Ted be unglued.

He was 53 now when he quit his day work:

Writing books, illustrating them, now was his perk.

He would do it for 33 years after that--

And the book that allowed it?  The Cat in the Hat.

Yes, the man whom I speak of is called Dr. Seuss,

Known for Horton the Elephant, Thidwick the Moose,

Known for Whos down in Who-ville and also the Grinch--

Though perfectionist work can be hardly a cinch.

And beginning the year that he turned sixty-two,

Dr. Seuss's career took a turn very new:

Animated cartoons airing on the TV,

Which continued for years: in fact, twenty and three.

********

If a moral exists from the tale of his life,

It may be that--while we may encounter some strife,

Taking detours--these might be disguises for blessings,

Things working out ways contradicting our guessings.

Take a page from the book of the man Dr. Seuss

And be flexible--better to let your life loose,

Or you may just discover the life that's for you

May be just as elusive as Solla Sollew.

There's a God in the Heavens who made us, each one,

And He gave us a purpose before world begun.

And He knows what we're meant for much better than us.

So let's trust Him and not waste our time with a fuss.

Often detours are born from misguided ideas

We have that turn out to distract us for yee-ahs,

Because we don't see the whole picture ourselves

And the place man is meant for is not where he delves.

But let go and let God and you may just discover

A path never thought of, yet one that you love her.

You might come to find it in roundabout way,

But it's far more worthwhile, at the end of the day.