Martin and the Wave

by Daniel Errico

Martin the monster was down by the shore,

Covered with barnacle-sea-foam galore.

“Hop in the water, it’s warm!” said his dad.

But rough scary waves had him scared, just a tad.

His mother insisted, “It’s time for a swim!”

No point in fighting - his mother would win.

They put on some troll-power, slimy sun lotion,

And strolled from the beach to the edge of the ocean.

His bold pinky toe took the very first dip.

A short hour later… he waded his hip.

A big sneaky wave came up crashing behind,

It knocked off his suit, which was quite hard to find!

He ran to his mother and sat on his towel.

“That wave knocked me down!” he said, scowling a scowl.

“I don’t like the ocean. I’ll never come back!”

He pouted until they decided to pack.

Arriving at home, Martin wiped both his eyes.

There was the wave, and it wore a disguise!

He ran inside quickly, and slammed the front door.

What would a wave want to follow him for?

The wave didn’t leave, it kept sloshing around.

He new it was there, by the swish-swooshing sound.

He heard it at dinner. He heard it at lunch.

He heard it while eating his SnackBerry Crunch.

It followed him home on his walk back from school.

It sprayed from the sprinkler and dove in the pool.

Martin the monster was through with this wave.

He needed it gone, and he had to be brave.

He went to the ocean the very next day.

To face such a wave, he knew only one way.

He jumped in the water. The wave jumped in too.

“Let’s settle this now, it’s between me and you!”

The wave approached quickly, but Martin was brave.

He wouldn’t be scared by this meddlesome wave.

He surfed on his belly and rode the wave in.

He passed by a dolphin and high-fived its fin.

Martin had realized the ocean was fun,

With water, the waves, and the sand, and the sun.

He wouldn’t be frightened! No! Not anymore!

He waved it goodbye as it washed on the shore.