A Turtle named Yertle

There was a turtle named Yertle--a clever fellow.
He lived in a marsh where the wind was mellow.
 
One warm day, to his own surprise,
he found his mind could see so much further than his eyes.
 
'Oh such lands that I could own! If only the sight of such I was shown!'
 
'If only a stone could become like a throne, so much more land on my stand I could own!'
 
On this warm day, with such an ambition, the little turtle climbed to a higher position.
 
On the top of a stone, oh what sights he could see!
 
Taller than all turtles--so mighty was he.
 
'Atop this rock, I rule all the land, from river to river and ocean to sand!'
 
But one sober turtle, still not much impressed, asked Mr. Yertle, 'is that place the best?'
 
'Is not one place higher? One further from the floor? Could not one climb onward and see so much more?'
 
Poor little Yertle, so high on a rock, felt so much smaller with all this big talk.
 
'Oh how much higher, dear me what distress! To think of the places I do not possess!'
 
'Come here you mean turtle--you made me upset, I'll climb on your back
and rise far higher yet!'
 
On top of a turtle, on top of a rock, a king and his castle, or so he took stock.
 
But along came another, a turtle of his word, this turtle looked higher and noticed a bird.
 
'Say, Mr. Yertle, look higher and see--there flies a swift bird so much higher than thee.'
 
Oh what a sorrow--now dethroned by a pigeon--if only he was higher--perhaps just a smidgeon.
 
Yertle thought long how to settle this trouble. Then gladly he told the new turtle, 'come close--on the double!'
 
'Climb on the back of this throne that I own and I'll climb even higher on you two and the stone.'
 
'Then I'll be double the turtle I am--even more! no more to bother with birds as before.'
 
So it was, turtle on turtle, three topping a stone, king Yertle the turtle saw fit to be known.
 
'Oh what a king, oh what a place! I stand for the land wherever I face!'
 
In glory and pleasure of such a great king, Yertle asked every turtle to happily sing.
 
But the turtles below were too tired to sing--from holding his weight--so mighty a king.
 
Yertle was angry, 'sing for such glory!' But the fellows below told a different story.
 
'So high and so mighty, so heavy on head, a great king with all glory can hardly be said.'
 
With one last breath,
So smooshed down bellow, the lowest turtle yelled, 'I'm done, let me go!'
 
'No! Stay in your place, this throne is complete. I'll stand on your face with my glorious feet!'
 
There came such a yell, from the turtle in between, the great Yertle fell, never more to be seen.
 
In his place in the mud, on his face with a thud, lay a turtle with a tale--how a kingdom can fail."