" YOU CAN'T TELL A BOOK BY THE COVER"
"Twas a contest search for talent
with auditions underway,
but one "clown", then another,
seem to dominate the day!
But one strolled through the curtains
when he was introduced,
and sure as sin is certain,
three judges seemed aloof!
For the figure that appeared,
a sight they saw profound,
a guitar was his gear
and his cap was turned around!
He walked a gait like farmers do
while treading over rows,
his steps were long and lively too,
when o'er the stage he strode.
He wore a usual farm outfit,
which also added doubt,
that the judges there would all submit
but simply buzz him out!
A t-shirt worn with cover-alls
with blacken cow-boy boots,
a heavy sound of country drawls
when speaking of his "roots".
Brought chuckles from the rowdy crowd
with this contestant's air;
"a chicken farm he came endowed,
his counting chickens there"!
And there he stood before the mike
to make his talent known;
the judges eyes all rolled alike
expecting him to drone.
Upon a gesture to begin
the singer starts his song;
although they thought it soon to end,
amazement struck the throng!
Through tears they stared in wonder
as a voice so rich and pure,
just magnified the somber,
that humbled hearts allure.
And then all came impassioned
and exploded in refrain,
to change a name they fasioned..
from "clown" to hero fame.
For he subsquently came
the best in all the land,
a TV show that's in his name,
1 million bucks in hand!
So when you see a title
on the cover of a book,
don't become too idle
with the contents overlooked.
And someone you are viewing
you suspect to be a "clown",
make sure of what they're doing
before you make a sound!
By William E. Hardison
