The Gingerfolk Ball
When midnight comes on New Year’s Eve,
If you’re happy as a mouse,
Then something magic happens to
The cookies in your house.
As people yawn, and say goodnight,
Then shuffle off to bed,
The party’s just beginning for
The people gingerbread.
It’s magic so nobody sees it,
No one really knows,
But let me tell you, I imagine
This is how it goes…
No human’s there to notice,
As the little hand hits one,
A sudden scent of cinnamon:
The New Year's Ball’s begun!
Now all the ginger boys and girls,
Once baked with love and care,
Can start to stand and move around,
‘Cause no one else is there.
They stretch and yawn, and smile and laugh,
And nod and shake hands, too.
They say, “My name is so-and-so”,
And ask, “How do you do?”
They straighten up their hair and clothes,
They curtsy and they bow.
They ask each other, “Shall we dance?”
Then teach each other how.
The cookies practice fancy steps,
They strut and twist and sway.
They all want to be ready when
The music starts to play.
At two o’clock the cookies hear
A single violin,
Which is the classic signal
For the dancing to begin.
Some cookies grab a partner,
Some start dancing on their own;
Some other shy ones stand like flowers
By the wall alone.
Flamenco, hula, cha-cha-cha
Foxtrot, tango, pas de deux,
They’re dancing every dance they know,
Inventing new ones, too.
The music's getting louder,
As more instruments join in:
Accordions and trumpets,
Tambourine and mandolin.
Just where the music's coming from,
Well nobody could say.
It's just something that happens
On this special holiday.
The dance goes on, with lifts and dips,
With twirls and steps ballet.
If only you could see it,
It would take your breath away!
They say nobody’s perfect, that
Each cookie has his faults;
But everyone looks perfect when
They dance the ginger waltz.
Merengue, salsa, mambo,
Macarena, watusi;
Those gingerfolk dance on and on
Until the clock strikes three.
At three somebody suddenly
Shouts out for all to hear,
The time has come for us to choose
The Cookie of the Year!
The rule to win the crown is simple:
Do what you do best,
And try to show the world that you
Shine brighter than the rest!
Are you the fastest, strong or cute?
Can you tell jokes or sing?
If you’ve any hidden talent, now’s
The moment, do your thing!
That skinny Mister Gingerbones
Is first to join the fun:
He juggles seven peppermints
And doesn’t drop a one!
...
This is an excerpt. I'm still looking for a publisher. I don't mind sharing the whole thing, but it's supposed to be formatted as a picture book, and there are still some unfinished drawings. I don't want people to read it like this, as one long page, but I'm okay with posting the beginning.