Sid the Squid
Sid was a squid who lived in a crevice in the deep
And from his little aperture, he never dared to creep
See Sid was a shy, a coy and bashful squid
And being reserved and retiring, this fissure was where he hid
See something Sid had noticed, when he’d dared to peep
Was that he was somewhat different, from the other creatures of the deep
Each creature that he noticed, each one that he would view
Each had a select colour, their signature, solid hue.
But Sid was quite the opposite, no certain colour did he show
For his colours were ever changing, in an iridescent glow
From green to red to blue, to yellow he would flitter
Ever changing by the second, he would sparkle he would glitter
Sid knew this made him different, he knew he was not the same
He felt humiliation and overwhelming shame
He wanted to fit in, to be like everybody else
So in his cavern he remained, hidden by the kelp.
Every night the creatures would gather for the disco of the deep
And from his hide Sid would cast his glance, in awe the squid would peep
The music would commence and the fun would soon begin
Oh how Sid longed to dance, how he wished he could join in
But never could he venture, the other creatures would laugh and howl and scream
They’d giggle and grin and stare and point at the strangest creature they’d ever seen
He would be humiliated because he was different, because he was not the same
Oh the embarrassment he would feel, the hurt, the mocking the shame.
So each night would pass, each disco ensue
As Sid remained hiding, bound by his shyness, his glue
The creatures would frolic and dance with glee
As Sid remained hiding, the loneliest creature in the sea
But one day things changed, no longer could he persist
The beat of the music Sid could not resist
Too long had he hidden, no longer could he shun
He wanted to dance, to join in the fun
And with a tentative tentacle from his hide Sid crept
And with a courageous push to the disco he leapt
No longer in hiding, in shyness, on the verge
From the depth of his cave Sid had sprung and emerged
From the abyss Sid daringly flew
No longer the fun would he fearfully eschew
This was his moment and this was his time
And boy did he impress, oh boy did he shine
He rose from the deep in a glow incandescent
And lit up the dance floor with colours fluorescent
Colours the creatures had neither seen nor could envision
Sid spun in his splendour, an ever changing, spectacular vision.
No creature had laughed, no mocking could be heard
Only gasps of wonder, no one uttered word
They simply stared in amazement, entranced and in awe
As they looked at the most beautiful creature to have graced the sea floor
“Oh where have you been hiding, from where have you come?
Such colours of beauty, such power to stun”
I am Sid cried the squid and I have hidden in fear
For I thought all would mock me for being so queer”
Oh how silly to hide, how wrong you could be
Our differences we celebrate, they bring us such glee
For some of us are flat and others are round
If you look at us closely such differences can be found
Some of use bare spots while others have stripes
Each creature is different; there are all sorts of types
Some have claws, while others have a shell
Look at our differences, can’t you see, can’t you tell
There are creatures with legs, tentacles and fins
Some like the ray even have wings
Some breathe the water while others breathe air
But these differences we celebrate, so don’t fear don’t despair.
Join us you have, and join us you should
Our differences our celebrated our uniqueness understood
Being different is not bad, being different is good
To choose to be the same would be boring, and none of us would.
Oh how I have worried, such fret and such fear
How I thought I’d be mocked for being so queer.
But now I see, now I understand
If we were not different life would be so bland.
I see all our differences and see that they’re great
They are not something to mock but instead celebrate.
So Sid danced and danced in his colours with pride,
No more would he feel ashamed, no more would he hide.