Rhyming President's Mystery

Written by Moe Zilla

Somewhere in its 50 states, America celebrates.

cherishing each fateful morn when its presidents were born.

On one day it's customary -- third Monday in February --

to remember all the greats leading the United States.

For their presidential glory, we present a rhyming story.

But six lines will hide a clue. There's a mystery here too!

In some states, the schools are closed. (Special rules are now imposed.)

But a boy named Bill forgot. Thinking he would still be taught,

he ran proudly to his school at 8:10 (which was the rule),

Carrying quite recklessly School books teaching history.

Yet the day had left its mark. At the school, the rooms were dark.

Through the window, Bill peeked, wary at the unlit school library.

In the grey dawn's light he spied on the building's dark inside.

Bill saw paintings hanging solemn by the doorway's entrance column.

They faced paintings on the wall. Washington was standing tall.

Paintings there would represent Every U.S. president.

There were 44 in all, hanging from his dark school wall.

George Bush senior, and his son stared back at George Washington.

Lincoln frowned, and Reagan, too. And Obama. (He is new!)

Cleveland, Clinton, Kennedy and Jackson (from Tennessee).

Nixon, Johnson, Harrison all looked to George Washington.

Suddenly, the room awoke and the presidents all spoke!

"Wake up, George," one painting said. "It's the holiday you dread!"

They were teasing, and George smiled at the way that he'd been riled.

"Polk," he said, "you've got it wrong." Polk replied "It's been too long.

Our spirits must wait a year For this day to re-appear."

Polk leaned grandly on a shelf. Lincoln chuckled to himself.

"My dad and I both were chosen," said George Bush, his face unfrozen.

"So was mine! We both were winning!" yelled John Quincy Adams, grinning.

Two cousins were President. Roosevelts -- so confident.

They gave Harrison some tweaks. His term lasted just four weeks!

Nixon said that pain he knew. He'd left his term early too!

Lincoln nodded, without speaking. Wilson's painting started creaking.

To the window he was pointing at something quite disappointing.

"In the White House, we worked lonely with our best advisors only.

But a young face pays a visit by the window. There -- what is it?

Where the holiday light shone. See that boy? We're not alone!"

Bill, embarrassed, turned to go. Why he stayed he didn't know.

But it was a chance to see famous men from history.

And to know and hear today what the presidents would say.

Filled with awe and fascination, he entered the conversation.

"Hello, Mr. Presidents. Hope you like your residence."

"It's quite grand," said Jefferson. "My painting gets lots of sun!"

Monroe added, speaking slow, "We can watch the children grow.

Smiling while we watch them learn, hoping that good grades they'll earn."

"If you're smart," Abe Lincoln said, "You could hang up here instead.

We were all boys once, like you. You could be President too!"

"Or your wife," said Clinton, straight. "My wife tried back in '08."

"It's a privilege that's earned, Based partly on what you've learned.

I was poor," Abe Lincoln said. "But I studied hard -- I read.

Soon my speeches moved the nation, And I won inauguration."

Andrew Johnson followed him. "It was hard," said Johnson, grim.

"After Lincoln, I could see that the states did not agree.

And the Congress overreached. Pretty soon, I got impeached!"

Wilson knew the weight they bore. "When I served, we were at war."

Truman knew that struggle too. He'd started in World War II.

He'd hoped his war would be last. But another followed fast.

Johnson, Nixon, Kennedy all knew war, they could agree.

But Nixon knew triumphs soon. "I sent men up to the moon!

But to be the one selected is the best -- to be elected.

I lost once, but then I won. My slogan? 'Nixon's the one!'"

Truman laughed at what he'd said. "Papers said I'd lost instead.

A mistake -- it's only human. They'd wrote 'Dewey defeats Truman!'"

Ford said, "Yes, my greatest news was to be the one they'd choose.

When the ballots all were sent, I'd been elected president."

Harrison's term started great. "Idaho became a state!"

Jefferson said "And Montana. But I bought Louisiana!

It was territory, though. Not a state until Monroe."

Bill's wide eyes were filled with glee at the living pageantry.

They'd been speaking for an hour Harding, Taft, and Eisenhower.

But he'd listened carefully to these men from history.

One stood out, before too long, And he knew something was wrong.

"Leaders of America One of you's a replica!

A cheap copy, with some tainting of the true artist's real painting.

I can tell this painting's new. He said things that weren't true!

He's a forgery and hid it." "Do you think Bill Clinton did it?"

Adams, in his fancy suit, seemed ready to prosecute.

"Or is Woodrow Wilson lying? Which fake president is spying?

Finding fakes could be quite fun. Maybe Nixon IS the one."

In this presidential garden, Nixon said "I beg your pardon?"

Then he gave a dirty look. "Don't blame me! I'm not a crook!

Can we find the guilty man?" Obama said, "Yes we can."

Through the window, Bill would stare at the talking paintings there.

"Do not let your faith be shaken. The original's been taken.

It's been hid, and I know where. It hangs by my teacher's chair!

but replaced here by a new one. (I could tell you weren't the true one.)

Everything he'd said was wrong. Lies come out before too long.

I respect the rest of you -- everything you said was true!"

Since he knew his history, Bill could solve their mystery.

And he earned respect immense from the room of Presidents.

Now's your chance to do the same. Play this President's Day game.

Though they all looked grand and wise which painting was telling lies?