| Note: This book was out of print for 20-years, it | | | | He spun an he splashed |
| presently has been re-edited lightly but only | | | | Creating a wave-- |
| several grammar mistakes were corrected, along | | | | Not whale could match; |
| with a little punctuation changed, and providing of | | | | The wave took Willie |
| quotation marks, and eliminating capital letters | | | | Away, |
| from random words that normally would not be | | | | To the Atlantic Sea that day. |
| capitalized [originally used for emphasis] from the | | | | Now, |
| original; revised 9/2002. | | | | When Willie awoke |
| An Entertaining and Heartwarming Story | | | | --thousands of miles from home-- |
| The Tale of: | | | | He saidwith a puffed up grin: |
| Willie The Humpback Whale | | | | "So many whales I see |
| A Poetic Story | | | | With odd thing!" |
| By | | | | Willie hearing voices |
| Dennis Siluk | | | | Randy |
| 1982 Pulitzer Entry | | | | Willie heard voices |
| Fourth Printing-Revised Edition, 10/2002 After 20 | | | | From afar |
| years | | | | Saying: |
| Illustrated by the Author | | | | "Welcome, Welcome |
| First Printing, l982 | | | | Whoever you are; |
| Second Printing, l983 [April] | | | | Do not shy away-- |
| Third Printing, l983 [Revised Edition] | | | | Humpback Whale-- |
| Fourth Printing [resurrected and revised 10/2002] | | | | There is room for all to sail." |
| Copyright, 1982 By: Dennis Siluk | | | | Sailing closer |
| Willie sailing in circles | | | | Willie mumbled |
| PART I | | | | (with anunhappy sigh): |
| Willie was a Humpback Whale | | | | "My name is Willie |
| Who sailed the Pacific Sea | | | | I have and odd tail |
| Who had a different kind of tail? | | | | That's hard to live by..." |
| [Not two fins--but three] | | | | Said Randy, a Goose-Beaked Whale: |
| To | | | | "As you can see, |
| Willie, his tail was depressing | | | | I have little tail |
| In everyway, | | | | And no fins to help me sail." |
| So to satisfy his unpleasant | | | | Randy (a Goose-Beaked Whale) |
| Feelings, | | | | "And over there is Humpty |
| He sails in circles all day,-- | | | | A Bottlenose Whale |
| By a Light House not far away. | | | | He says he is different |
| Mother Whale | | | | Because of his nose |
| Marlene | | | | But he says he has many life goals." |
| To his Mother, Marlene, | | | | Humpty (a Bottlenose Whale) |
| Willie often said: | | | | Alfred |
| "I wish I had, | | | | "And Grin Teeth Alfred |
| And that it wasn't-- | | | | --a Right Whale by race-- |
| My tail that is, | | | | Can't smile for his teeth are misplaced; |
| Which is so uncommon?" | | | | But he compensates by laughing |
| She'd respond | | | | --He says |
| With a chant: | | | | He's happy." |
| "O Willie, my Son! | | | | "And Norma, a Narwhal Whale, |
| Can't you see? | | | | Has a sword for a nose |
| It's not your tail: | | | | --which is hard for sail-- |
| But rather, | | | | But, |
| Your feelings." | | | | She says she doesn't care |
| Father Whale | | | | For her nose is unaware. |
| Elmo | | | | And You! Willie, my friend-- |
| And to Elmo, his father | | | | Say and off tail, |
| --a fearless mammal-- | | | | When only I see an extra fin |
| Willie would say: | | | | For sail." |
| "I wish I was different-- | | | | Norma (a Narwhal Whale) |
| Maybe a camel." | | | | Willie |
| He'd respond | | | | "Can it not be used for speed |
| With a groan: | | | | And splash; |
| "Willie my son | | | | For good time with friends, |
| It's what's inside | | | | For laughs. |
| That helps us grow!" | | | | Why show disrespect |
| Baby Blue | | | | For your insides... |
| (A Blue Whale) | | | | Because of an extra fin-- |
| To his friend | | | | That's different to your eyes." |
| Baby Blue Whale, | | | | Willie then thought with relief |
| Willie often said: | | | | "Why should I not be pleased? |
| "I wish I could bite | | | | For I've simply been blind |
| Off my odd tail." | | | | To this wonderful tail of mine." |
| O Baby Blue, | | | | Part IV |
| He'd jump up and down, | | | | As Willie turned 'round |
| Saying: | | | | He saw a Humpback female in frown, |
| "I never noticed," | | | | He said to Randy quietly: |
| (With a frown). | | | | "I have seen her in the Pacific Sea." |
| Elmer (an Elephant Seal) | | | | Randy replied with note: |
| And to Elmer, | | | | "She has a tail like you. |
| An Elephant Seal | | | | She's been here for a while-- |
| (Who'd toy by the Pacificshore) | | | | With tears and no smile." |
| Willie would whisper: | | | | Now Willie remembered that day |
| "If my tail was gone | | | | (last April when Emily sailed his way) |
| I'd wish no more." | | | | O! He grumbled at his tail--every mile! |
| But in a like manner, | | | | And left her to sail away. |
| Elmer would reply: | | | | With a cheerful face he approached |
| "O Willie, O Willie-- | | | | Emily and her frown, |
| God live or go die!" | | | | With a soft smile he then spoke: |
| Wanda (a Seagull) | | | | "What a pretty third fin you carry |
| And to Wanda Seagull | | | | 'round." |
| Who'd perch on his back | | | | Well, |
| Willie would cry: | | | | Willie and Emily sailed away, |
| "This tail of mine | | | | Smiling in every way |
| Makes me sad." | | | | Splashing their fin-tails around |
| Wanda would speak | | | | Creating a monstrous sound. |
| --With a chuckling voice: | | | | They were never seen of since |
| "If all things were the same | | | | But Randy knows they're around: |
| There'd be no choice". | | | | For whenever there's a Tidal Wave-- |
| Part II | | | | He says: "You can bet |
| Wellduring one April sail | | | | Willie and Emily are at play." |
| Willie met a Humpback female; | | | | Willie and Emily sailing away |
| He said with a toss and a grin: | | | | Comments about the book "Willie the Humpback |
| "If not for my tail | | | | Whale by first graders at Ascension School; |
| I could be her boyfriend". | | | | Minneapolis, Minnesota, (l983): |
| So he swam away in defeat | | | | "What I learned from Willie: Willie tells me to like |
| Saying: | | | | things that are good even if they look Funny." |
| "I'm not good enough to meet | | | | --Unknown Student |
| This lovely Humpback Female (Emily) | | | | "I'm happy now my tail and fins help me make big |
| Who follows me during sail". | | | | waves." |
| Emily (a female Humpback Whale) | | | | --Cedric Allbritton |
| Emily | | | | "I love you, Willie. You are good inside. I love you, |
| Well, | | | | Emily, you are good to me." |
| She Followed Willie's | | | | --Minni Williams |
| Tail | | | | "I don't have any front teeth and I still like myself |
| (looking softly at his sad smile), | | | | anyway (Alfred)." |
| Hearing him grumble every mile. | | | | --Kamau Larry |
| Shethen, | | | | "Just because you don't got what other people |
| Turned around | | | | got and you look different you're still good and |
| (With a frown on her face), | | | | you don't have to fuss about." |
| Leaving Willie and his sad sounds-- | | | | --Lucretia Burgess |
| Heading north bound. | | | | "I don't like my fins. Don't cry, Willie. That's OK I |
| Willie continued to feed | | | | still like you." |
| His unhappy feelings | | | | --Lucretia Burgess |
| (in the Pacific out of sight): | | | | "Willie didn't like his tail and he had said feelings. He |
| Sailing alone with a tear-- | | | | changed his mind cuz his tail was still a good tail." |
| Joking--feeling sorry for his life. | | | | --Bridget Dols |
| Willie | | | | "Willie helps me to be happy when I have |
| PART III | | | | something I don't like." |
| It came to pass one day | | | | --Endea Curry |
| Willie got mad | | | | "Willie was nice at the end cuz he thought over |
| At his Old Ways; | | | | about the way he could splash so high. |
| With his tail | | | | |