Tommy Turkey waved his wattle,
trotted off to see the town,
waded through the swollen creek where
stood a sign "Beware--You'll Drown!"

Tommy wasn't watching closely
thought he read, "Beyond--Your Town".
With the water wildly whooshing
round he raced, dragged up and down.

Bobbing back where he began, wet
wings awash with mud and muck,
Tommy Turkey couldn't fly, his
feathers floppy, soggy, stuck.

He said aloud, "Well, what comes now,
cross the creek or hurry home?
Wait until my wings are warmed or
swim again through frothy foam?"

Turkeys aren't your brightest bird so
Tommy tried to swim, and sank.
Luckily the crossing currents
tossed poor Tom up on the bank.

Right below the written warning
where he read, "Beware, You'll drown!
"My mistake," he said, "how horrid.
Time for home, Im through with town!"

Tommy, traveled, tired and tattered,
once his wings were working right,
bravely trudged back to his barn and
gobbled everything in sight.

Through with trips, he said, "I'm thankful,
I got home in time to tell
the barnyard creatures to beware.
Watch for signs--and learn to spell!"