Echo the Elephant's Echo
Deep in the jungle, where vines twist and sway, Lived Echo the Elephant, big as the day. With trunk so long and ears like sails wide, He trumpeted loud from morning till night. But Echo was grumpy on this sunny morn— A thorn in his foot made his temper be born. He stomped through the leaves, with a huff and a roar, Waking the monkeys from sleep evermore.
The monkeys swung down, with chatter and fuss. "Hey, Echo! Why so much rumpus and muss? We were dreaming of bananas so sweet!" But Echo just snorted, "Go find your own beat! I'm sore and I'm tired—leave me be!" His words boomed back from a canyon nearby, Echoing grumpy, across the green seas. The monkeys' tails drooped, their fun turned to sighs.
Next came Tweetie the Bird, with wings all a-flutter, Chirping a song that was sweet as fresh butter. "Join my melody, Echo—let's sing!" But Echo grumbled, "Your tune's not my thing! Too chirpy and high—it's a noisy old din!" The words flew across to the canyon's deep rim, Bouncing back louder, a grumpy old spin. Tweetie flew off, her feathers all thin.
Then Tumbles the Turtle, slow on his shell, With his family trailing, wished Echo well. "Share our pond for a splash in the sun?" Echo huffed loud, "You're too slow—on the run! I need space, not your plodding parade!" The canyon threw back his words in cascade, Grumpier echoes that never would fade. The turtles retreated, their smiles decayed.
Now Echo stood solo, trunk hanging low, The jungle gone quiet, no friends in a row. He trumpeted soft to the canyon's deep call— "Go away! Noisy! Too slow!"—it came back, one and all. The grumbles surrounded him, loud as a storm, Twisting his ears, making his heart feel forlorn. "Why does it sound so mean and so mad? It's my voice echoing—oh, now I'm sad!"
He glanced at his foot—the thorn sharp and small. With a gentle tug, out it did fall. The pain eased away, like a cloud passing by. "Now, what have I done? Oh me, oh my! My words hurt my friends, just like this prickly sting. They bounced back to me—now I hear what they bring! Kindness should echo, not gloom or a tune Of grumps that chase joy from the afternoon."
He trumpeted softly, a call through the leaves: "Monkeys, my playmates, come swing in the breeze! Forgive my loud rumble—let's frolic and glide Beneath cooling branches, with hearts open wide!" The canyon replied in a whisper so sweet, Kind echoes unfolding like petals replete. The monkeys whooped wildly, their tails in a whirl, "Together we're stronger—let's twirl through the world!" In friendship's bright chorus, their joys intertwined, A symphony sparkling, forever aligned.
Tweetie returned, with a trill full of cheer, And Tumbles the Turtle, drawing near. "Sing with us, Echo—your voice deep and true!" He joined in the chorus, kind through and through. The echoes now danced, like a river's soft flow, Spreading the warmth where the kind words would go. "Grumpy comes back, but kindness rings loud— Treat friends with heart, and you'll stand tall and proud!"
As stars peeked out in the velvet sky blue, Echo and friends waved a fond adieu. The canyon whispered, soft as a dream, Kind echoes lingering, like a sunbeam. No more thorns or grumps in the jungle so green— Just hearts full of kindness, the best that's been seen.