Philo & Sophy
By Joseph B. Ulrich
Illustrations by Robyn Diaz (see the story with illustrations)
Copyright 2010
There once was a girl named Sophy
Who wanted to know about the things that she could not see.
She already knew how the bees were buzzing
And how the birds were flying
And how to stop a baby from crying.
But what about the “Que Sera… Sera’s”
The “Therefore I am’s”
And the “Think I, think I, think I cans”?
Coincidentally
At about a quarter to nine
Philo had asked himself “Why is this mine”?
He knew what he had.
All gifts from his Mom
And all gifts from his Dad.
But what made him, Him? And he, He?
Or was he the littlest A amongst a zillion giant Z’s?
“Just because,” they said, “just won’t do!”
So unknown to each other
Philo and Sophy thought it was best
To set on a quest
To answer their questions and finally put them to rest.
While on her walk
Bound and determined
Sophy heard a clatter or was it a sermon?
She found seven pups in a row like a pew.
And oh did they fuss.
And oh did they stew.
But when the Dogs’ Ma did finally speak,
The pups sat still with not a whimper.
Not a peep.
“Without question of fact,” she said “it is so and that is that.”
“The proof is in Me. Now listen and thou shall see!”
Sophy remained unsure and uncertain.
“For was it a hint of belief or a bit of suspicion?”
Her answers were near.
That much was so clear.
The story continues to the cycle of Philo
Which he proudly named
Mister Karmichael.
But even though it had a sparkly flare
For the poor little bike
Philo neglected to care.
First went the chain, the pedal, and wheels.
Next went the handle bars, the seat, and gears.
Then went the bolts, the nuts, and the sprockets.
Sending Philo flying, emptying his pockets.
Philo got up and asked his old friend
“What was the reason for this unfortunate action?”
The bike did reply, “everything you do has an equal and separate reaction.”
We think it was coincidence
Yes coincidentally again.
Kismet, a happenstance, a catch-as-catch-can.
Philo and Sophy had met on the way
A mere act of fate brought them together that day.
Sophy was told about being aware.
That everything you do
Do with some care.
And She had told Philo of what could be truth
But that it was fun to keep up the sleuth.
Philo and Sophy began to converse
And what came out was provocative and diverse.
They both said “Oh!”
And they both said “I see!”
And they both decided to call it “Philosophy!”
The End
2 Responses
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NICE!
I just read this NYT article about second graders discussing philosophy and it put me in mind of your book.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/18/education/edlife/18philosophy-t.html?src=me&ref=general