Bibi the Ladybug

"I’m Bibi the Ladybug
a cute little one,
I have dazzling colors
that shine in the sun.

Today is so special,”
said a grinning Bibi,
"I’m having a birthday,
today I'll be three!

My friends planned a party
they all will be there,
I have to look fabulous
but what will I wear?

I'll put on some jewelry
and red high-heel shoes,
I’ll wear lots of make-up,
how much should I use?”

When Bibi was done
she just wasn’t the same,
she changed her whole look
and even her name.

“Today I will call myself
'Madame Bibi',
I feel so grown-up
now that I'm turning three.”

She walked through the woods
where the blue river bends,
her party was there
and so were her friends.

There’s Grandaddy Longlegs
with Rose the Snail,
and Sparky the Firefly
blinking his tail.

“Hello, my good friends!”
Bibi said with a smile,
but they all became quiet
and just stared for a while.

“Today is my Birthday
I’m older you see,
from now on just call me
Miss Madame Bibi.”

Sparky then laughed,
“Bibi looks like a clown!”
Rose told him, “Sparky,
You should not put her down.

She looks a lot different
yes, that may be true,
but inside she is still
the same bug we all knew.”

“I feel beautiful wearing
my make-up and clothes,
I’m better this way,”
said Bibi to Rose.

“Well Bibi, that’s fine
it’s your choice to make.”
Grandaddy just smiled
and brought out the cake.

They sang ‘Happy Birthday’
and other songs too,
then Bibi got presents,
in fact quite a few.

Grandaddy gave her
a watch and some toys,
Sparky's gift was a whistle
that made lots of noise.

Rose gave her dolls;
at least three or four,
Bibi’s presents were opened
but Rose had one more.

“This one is special,
you’ll see,” said Rose,
“Is it perfume?” asked Bibi,
“or could it be clothes?”

She opened her present
with friends gathered near her,
Bibi picked up her gift
and held up a new mirror.

Bibi looked for a while
at her make-up and rings,
she said, “Maybe I don’t really
need all these things.

I’m older today
but I’m still only three,
I have plenty of time
to be ‘Madame Bibi’.

Tomorrow I think
I’ll be Bibi again,”
she put down the mirror
and hugged her three friends.

“I may change my mind,”
she smirked with a smile,
“but right now I'll just be
who I am for a while.”

She blew her new whistle
and scared her three friends,
they knew she was back
to her old self again.

(***Part of a series of children's story poems***)