Orang-in-the-Tree

Editor’s Note: I am very fond of the gentlemen who have teamed up to delight the childrenfolk today. I first met Josh at a tiny Bible college in southern Ohio. He was sipping a pop and we discovered that our pops had both been to this tiny Bible college as well. Later, I went to a slightly-less-tiny Bible college with Rex Queems, where we at one time must have imbibed pop together. (We certainly weren’t drinking anything stronger. There was a rule.) Rex and I later teamed up to create The Fledge Chronicles serial, I writing, he illustrating, which appeared in a tiny, regional magazine for a couple of years. I’ve got a tiny bit of history with these boys, and I’m grateful for it. I hope you enjoy the show. –Sam

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Orang-in-the-Tree

by Joshua Duncan, illustrated by Rex Queems

Orang-in-the-tree
Climbed swingy-buck down
slid in his car window
and drove into town.

He waggled his head
and flashed his sad eyes
at the sensitive chef
for free bacon pies

Whooshed off in his car
and blue driving hat
with passenger pies
and a vagabond gnat

He nibbled in circles
’round delicate crust
and licked his mouth corners
for stray pastry dust

The curious gnat
From car ceiling height
Surveyed his orange apeness
Then swooped for a bite.

Of pie, not of ape,
As one might expect.
He lit on a pie plate,
Hat off in respect.

“Kind ape,” said the Gnat,
“Oh lover of pies,
May I beg a morsel
Of gnat-friendly size?”

Orang scratched his chin,
Wide grin on his mug,
And slid a whole pie to
The weather-worn bug.

The two exchanged names
And distances traveled
And pledged to find spots where
The world came unraveled

They crossed Krungle Wood,
Which Gnat found quite brave,
And heard the ghost music
From Canticle Cave

They sang an old song,
“Dim-dillow-glen gliders
Dim-dillow-King Willy,
The gnat who slew spiders”

Then split the last pie
Atop the car hood
And watched the red sunset
Alive, warm, and good.

Gnat said with a laugh,
“We’ve traveled so far
I might change your name to
Orang-in-the-Car.”

Orang was left startled
A name change for him?
He lovingly thought of
His bed on a limb.

He palmed the old bug,
Threw gears in reverse,
Pealed off over back roads
And paths they’d rehearsed.

Past cave and past wood,
As empty plates clanged,
They came to the Home Tree
Where hammocks were hanged.

Orang-in-the-Tree
Climbed skitter branch up
And pictured his life as
A brim-bursting cup.