Dianne Berndt, Winona, Minn.
Even though Easter is past, this does cover a parade – much like the SummerFest Parade you have in Sartell – that your readers might enjoy. I wrote this poem for my niece, Kathryn Sprenger and her daughter, Danyka, who is now 1 year old. My niece and her husband live in Sartell, and son Ryan, 7, goes to elementary school there.
I am from Winona, Minn. I have a house on Main Street and I spend half my time in Winona taking care of my mother, Olga, 97 – who did have a big garden – and the other half in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. with my husband. My mother also, did make a Little Bo Peep outfit for my sister, Gayle and she was in the Easter parade in Winona with our pet lamb, Oscar, and a milk bottle.
My brother, Roger played the trumpet in high school marching band. He is close to 60 now, hence Memory Lane.
I hope the background was interesting (and explains some of the poem better).
Danyka’s Easter Adventure
written by Dianne Berndt-Connors
Little Danyka knowing Easter was soon,
said “I’ll need a basket,” to her mother.
“I will find one for you,
and also for Ryan, your brother.”
Danyka put on her sweater and hat
and then went outside to play.
The snow was gone, Spring was here,
what a warm and beautiful day.
Far away she saw a white movement
that looked like a bunny’s tail.
It started hopping and hippity hoppiting,
and hopped behind the hay bale.
Danyka decided she would follow
so she could get a better look.
She had not seen the Easter Bunny,
except for pictures in her book.
It hopped faster to the field
and then down the narrow trail.
It hopped to the woods, over a brook,
and across the hilly dale.
Danyka had to start running
to keep the bunny in sight.
Across the meadow of flowers,
that twinkled with dew in sunlight.
They were now in the woods,
when she finally caught up with him.
The trees blocked the morning sun,
and the forest light was dim.
Danyka looked and searched around
and then went up a small knoll.
She tripped on a little tree root
and fell down a very big hole.
She looked around in the cave
and thought, “It’s the rabbit’s lair.”
Then she noticed standing there,
a little girl in blonde hair.
“My name is Alice in this land of wonder,
I fell down here and so lost am I.
I miss my family and my friends,
I want to leave,” she said with a sigh.
“This cat dissappears except his grin,
and the Caterpiller is blue not green,
The Mad Hatter is quite mad,
and the Queen of Hearts is very mean.”
“I will help you,” Danyka said,
as she looked to find a way out.
“The entrance is over here,” said she,
without the slightest doubt.
A White Rabbit with a watch in his hand
appeared and said “There is no time to waste.
You must find Easter Bunny because
the front of the parade he’s been placed.”
He must be there to lead it,
or there might not be a parade.
I think without Easter Bunny in front,
it will be cancelled, I’m afraid.
To find the Easter Bunny in time,
you must both be on your way.
You can not linger or for long stay.
You must hurry and leave right away.”
Alice looked at the Cheshire Cat,
with tilted hat and big plaid tie.
“From this nightmare I am leaving,
to everyone here I say goodbye.”
They walked over to a small village
and down the yellow brick street.
By the bottom of the castle wall,
a broken egg they happened to meet.
Humpty Dumpty looked up at them,
from the wall where he did fall.
“Please help fix my cracked body,
so I’ll be able to stand tall.”
Danyka looked at Humpty Dumpty,
and said “I have some glue.
We will mend your broken shell
and you will look like new.”
The three of them then traveled,
and continued in the search.
When a little rabbit jumped out,
from behind a thicket of birch.
He looked at them and said,
“Peter Rabbit is my name.
I was in Olga Berndt’s garden,
playing Eat your Vegetables game.
As I was chased and ran away,
I lost my new blue jacket and my shoe.
Now I am so very frightened,
I know not what to do.”
Danyka walked over to the fence and said,
“I see upon a scarecrow, a jacket in blue.”
As she handed it to Peter, smiled
“Here, this will look better on you.”
His sisters Flopsy, Mopsy and Cottontail,
in pretty Spring outfits were dressed.
“We like Grampa Russ’ garden better,
like the cabbage patch,” they confessed.
Then they all went over to the brook,
and under the bridge was a Troll.
“I thought I saw a bunny running,
when I came out for a stroll.”
“Everyone who crosses this bridge,
is required to pay a toll.
But I never ask Mr. Fox or Mr. Mole,
to put money in the bowl.
If I see the rabbit you are looking for,
I will surely let you know.
One that sees everything around here though,
would be Mr. Raven, the crow.”
“We need your help,” they asked the crow,
“since you can see from the sky.
Please find and tell Easter Bunny
he is to lead the parade, is why.”
“We will not be able to have a parade,
without the Easter Bunny today.
The little Easter chicks and ducks,
would all get lost along the way.”
As they went further down the road,
who should they spot and see?
Could it be? It was – the Easter Bunny!
Now the day was saved and sunny.
“Wake up, Danyka, wake up.
You have fallen asleep, it does seem.”
She opened her eyes, looked around,
“Oh, Mother, I had such a strange dream.”
Danyka was so excited now, for it was,
the day for the Easter parade.
Her hat had flowers and ribbons,
so cute was the bonnet she had made.
The pretty eggs filled her basket,
all different colors she could see.
There were chocolate and some jelly,
all sweet as honey from Volkart’s bee.
The parade started at the school,
that was in the middle of Sartell.
Then past Danyka’s home on Second Street,
and over east to the Mississippi dell.
Easter Bunny was in the parade front,
when he looked over at her.
He said, with a big wave and smile,
“Leading the parade, I do prefer.”
Then came the floats in all colors,
there was Alice and Caterpiller, too.
Humpty Dumpty smiled and waved to her,
who was held together with glue.
Alice waved and looked so happy,
her blond hair up with a bow.
The little baby chicks and ducks,
even walked in a straight row.
The Cheshire Cat with the tilted hat,
and strange grin reappeared for her.
He gave a big smile and a wave,
then layed down and did purr.
Peter Rabbit was dressed in a blue jacket,
Flopsy and Mopsy in pink and yellow.
And the red Queen of Hearts who waved,
also looked happy and quite mellow.
Oscar, the lamb was led by Aunt Gayle,
who was dressed as Little Bo Peep.
She had a milk bottle and a shepherd’s hook,
that she used when she herded the sheep.
Uncle Roger led the band with his bugle,
as they marched down Memory Lane.
Then they met up with Auntie Dee Dee,
and went past her house on Main.
The main singer seen was lovely Darlene,
who sang the most beautiful tune.
It was such a sweet lilting lullaby,
that was heard all the way to the moon.
White Rabbit hurried past very fast,
and looked at his watch, “I’m late, I’m late!
I am going to the Sartell Newsleader,
with the editor, I have an important date.
I can not say hello or goodbye,
I must get this story to rhyme.
To be printed in the paper,
it must be in on time.”
The Troll and his friend Mr. Mole,
and Mr. Raven all gave a big wave.
“Thanks to you little Danyka,
this parade you helped save.”
Everyone had waved especially to her,
and then she knew after a while.
She HAD helped with the parade,
she thought with a little smile.
The hidden eggs were all gathered,
birds chirped their evening song.
The sun was setting in the west,
on a day that seemed quite long.
Danyka hung up her pretty dress,
that Grandma Russ handmade.
Then combed out her long brown hair,
that Mom had put in a braid.
She put away her Easter bonnet,
to her cousins said her goodbyes.
Dad tucked her in her little bed,
and she closed her little eyes.
. . . and dreamed a little dream.
May your life always be an adventure,
and Easter bring something new.
May your basket overflow with love,
and the ones you love with you.