A gathering together of old, dear friends

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Together they gathered, on hearing the news,

sharing a sniffle, a tear, some boohoos.

The Lorax was there, and Horton, with Who,

the Cat in the Hat and Thing One and Thing Two.

The Grinch? He attended. And others we know.

Their faces were long, there spirits were low.

The first speaker was Thidwick, the Big-Hearted Moose.

His heart it was grieving, for his friend Dr. Seuss.

“Oh the places he took us, the places we’ve been,

the worlds he created with strokes of his pen.

“The whimsy and fun and sweet little ditties,

that taught love of reading to millions of kiddies…”

“He wouldn’t be happy to hear you like that,”

reminded a smiling Cat in the Hat.

“Remember our friends, those millions who read us?

We’re silly to think that they will forget us.

“Those girls are now women! Those boys are now men!

And so the old cycle starts over again.

“The children who played with the toys, dolls and puppies,

have grown into creatures called Buppies and Yuppies.”

“One day, in their lap, sits a bambino, papoose.

On that day they will need us, the creatures of Seuss.”

“You’re quite right, of course,” said Horton’s Who.

“We have quite a lot of work yet to do.”

And slowly, so slowly, their frowns turned to smiles,

spreading so wide, miles upon miles.

-The Atlanta Constitution Editorial Page

* * *

“You’ll be on your way up!

You’ll be seeing great sights!

You’ll join the high fliers who soar to great heights!”

(from “Oh, The Places You’ll Go”. Seuss, 1990)

* * *

Theodor Seuss Geisel

March 2, 1904 – Sept. 24, 1991