The secret knack that Jimmy has;
he's always first at corner wall,
perching like an imp enthroned,
from playtime start to closing bell.
How he first reaches, no one knows.
Jimmy's uncle is a star
of television on guitar,
our nearest claim to royalty.
When rare, he features on the screen,
channel one or maybe two,
in our homes around the school
we tell the room, our audience,
that this Bert's nephew in our class -
that Bert is Jimmy's uncle, more -
not least because we do not know
what the unused word 'nephew' means.
Jimmy's with me every day.
As prize day closer, we chose in turn
our book from teacher's desk, the stock.
We both chose large pictorial;
so put aside, reserved for now,
we wait till all selections made,
then drawing lots, our Jimmy wins.
I am left book that’s still unread -
but there on shelf beside my bed
I see that volume Jimmy lost.
With wisdom's growth, I am so glad
that Jimmy's home had won the tome,
with my bookstore, no shelving space.
Bert may play guitar on high;
when impish Jimmy joins him too
I hope he has his book with him,
sitting in his corner, perched.
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