This is the story Ellie-Mabel
Who licked the gum under the table
(As I’m sure you’re all aware
Naughty children stick gum there)
At first it was just a game
To amuse her until playtime came
But then one day disaster struck
Ellie-Mabel’s tongue got stuck
Onto the gum so white and sticky
(Serves her right for being icky)
So there she lay under the table
Till the teacher said “Where’s Ellie-Mabel?”
“HELPTH BY TONGK ITH THUCKK!”
Cried the unfortunate little schmuck
The teacher looked all around
To find out who had made the sound
She searched the classroom, edge to edge
Even upon the window ledge
She rummaged under flower pots
And other such unlikely spots
Then finally looked under the table
Where she found Ellie-Mabel
Dangling in mid air
As her tongue held her there
“EEEK” the mistress let out a screech
“How am I supposed to teach
A child such as Ellie-Mabel
Who sticks herself under the table?”
Her wild classmates were delighted
To see their poor teacher blighted
They banged on desks and jumped on chairs
Thrilled by the entirely awful affair
(Ellie-Mabel would have joined in too
But gum makes an exceptional glue)
“We’ll cut her down” teacher declared
Ellie-Mabel started to get scared
“Blood will splatter and guts may fly
But she needs to learn to multiply
And for that she needs to be able
To complete her sums upon the table
And not by dangling underneath
Or gnawing at gum with her teeth
In all of my years as a teacher
I’ve never met such a wayward creature
And who has raised this little dolt?
It must be all the parents’ fault”
The teacher marched towards the door
Off in search of a large-ish saw
While she was gone the classmates pulled
Upon the poor little fool
They grabbed her legs and made a line
The one in front then gave a sign
The children hauled with all their strength
Stretching her tongue to an enormous length
Until at last Miss Ellie-Mabel
Was freed from the gum under the table
Moments later the teacher returned
And what is that lesson that has been learned?
Never lick the gum under the table
Or you’ll end up just like Ellie-Mabel
Who is a bit more cautious than before
Now that her tongue drags on the floor
Thanks for all your help, Jimmy. I appreciate it and I'll keep it in mind for future poems. You're right about the scanning, definitely an area I need to improve in!
"Here's the tale of Ellie-Mabel"
This would allow you to add a sub-title: "An Ellie-Mabel Table Tale".
ONE example:
This is the story Ellie-Mabel [considering the rhythm you later swing into, this is already too long... and it's missing an "of", which would make it even longer]
Who licked the gum under the table [2 syllables too long, in my opinion]
SUGGESTION:
Here's the tale of Ellie-Mabel
Who licked gum from under tables
This slightly damages your perfect rhyme of Mabel and table (SINGULAR) and you might find a better solution. But the scanning seems - to me - worth that small sacrifice.