Mr. Pii Poo
was a magician.
He shouted: hii hoo!
kicked the ground
and conjured up:
bananas
broccolies
shallots
strawberries
peppers
princesses
and shells,
so
Mr. Pii Poo
knew some spells.
Once
Mr. Pii Poo
visited Espa.
He shouted: hii hoo!
kicked the ground
and then with a vespa
he drove.
That was Mr. Pii Poo's
grave mistake.
See, a magician's ways
can't sway machines
not motors
not nuts
not bolts
not gears
not clutches
after all:
a machine has a machine's pace.
So then,
Mr. Pii Poo
drove home again.
He shouted: hii hoo!
kicked the vespa
and ran into an incoming train.
I'm dying,
screamed Mr. Pii Poo,
and my hair's not yet gray!
He shouted: hii hoo!
and died some other day.
— Herra Pii Poo, a poem by Kirsi Kunnas from Tiitiäisen satupuu (‘The Tittytumpkin’s fairy tree’, 1956)
Translated by Nooa Lumilaakso
This is a poem from my childhood that I always remember fondly. You should check out the reading done by the author—how dramatic! Such an emotional rollercoaster.
It also somewhat relates to my current occupation. You know the term 'Computer wizard'? I guess that's complete bogus, since as we now know, spells don't work on machines!
The poem also packs in a lot of information for a child audience. Lists of fun words that kids can recognize and learn, fun imagery (princesses appearing out of nowhere and a wizard driving a scooter), as well as the all-important lesson that motor vehicles and trains are really dangerous! Even a wizard can get hurt!!
