Stick and Rock call each other friend

They are there for each other to no end.

When Stick takes a test, Rock helps her study

And when Rock gets lonely, Stick is his buddy.

She will call on the phone and talk all night

About mermaids, grasshoppers and birds in flight.

Rock & Stick will make plans for their days,

And amuse themselves in so many ways.

When it rains they run, splash and jump in the water,

And when it is sunny they enjoy that it’s hotter.

One day in the park, both Rock and Stick sat

Stick plucked a Flower to use as her hat—

“Rock, look at me!” Stick said. “Aren’t I pretty?”

“Ouch!” said the Flower. “I think you’ve hurt me.”

Both Rock and Stick looked at each other shocked

For neither of them knew that flowers talked.

“Excuse me,” the Flower spoke once again.

“But I really seem to be in some pain.”

Rock asked the Flower how to make it better:

“Can we somehow put you back together?”

“Sorry, but no,” said the Flower, distraught.

“I’ll be a hat with some time left I’ve got

But do me a favor and plant my seeds

For when I wilt away that’s what I’ll need

To be able to spread my seeds and grow

And all of my beauty, to others, show.”

Stick started crying, “I’m sorry Miss Flower.

When I plucked you, I didn’t know I had power

To hurt you so much that you’d stop growing.

Believe me I really had no way of knowing.

And if I could take it all back now I would.”

“Shhh,” said the Flower, “You can still do good.

Here are my seeds, plant them where the ground is healthy

And when they grow you’ll see they look just like me

But please if you’ll take me off your head

I’d like to lie back down in my Flower-bed.”

Stick and Rock laid Flower down with love

As a great white bird soared up above.

It flew past the sun and it cast a shadow

And Rock and Stick did what they knew they had to:

They took the seeds asleep in Stick’s hand

And found a large field—exceptionally grand.

They planted the seeds and over them did watch

On a tree marking each day with a notch.

The days turned to weeks and the weeks to months

And baby Flowers sprung up, they saw them at once—

They looked like their Mama, oh so pretty!

(Even if their faces were a little dirt-y.)

Stick said to Rock, “I could use a new hat.”

Rock said to Stick, “You know better than that.

Remember their Mama and the words that she told you?

Remember them now because they are quite true:

Don’t pick a Flower because it is pretty

If you really love it, you will let it be.”

Stick thought this over and looked up above

Then said to Rock, “I’ll let it be what I love.”

Rock said to Stick, “Well, good, that is that.”

Stick said to Rock, “No more Flowers for hats.”

They held hands and walked toward the sun.

Both knowing they learned an important lesson.