The Lighthouse with a Tilt (A children's picture book)

‘The Lighthouse With A Tilt’

a picture book by Julia Smethurst

Once upon a time,
on a cliff beside the sea-
There stood an old lighthouse
in a town called Maloree.

The Major ‘Mr. Maydeck’,
had closed him up with wood-
‘He’s far too old to shine as bright
as a modern lighthouse could…!

‘Oh’ cried the old lighthouse,
‘What will become of me?’
‘I’ll never leave my home,
my life beside the sea’!

So one day the mayor spoke
of building a new tower-
‘He’ll shine bright to guide the ships
with twice the candlepower’!

But instead of building on a rock
the builders built on silt-
And when they finished, what a shock!
the lighthouse had a tilt!

Just after tea the sky turned black
storm clouds began to brew-
and from the West a gale blew
wave’s hid the rocks from view!

A curtain parted in the rain
and showed a horrid sight-
A ship too close in by the shore,
‘They’ll not see out this night!’

Up, Down all around
the lighthouse began blinking-
But could not get his light to where
the ship would soon be sinking!

‘What shall we do’ the captain cried-
those cliffs mean sure destruction,
I hope the ship wrights living there
are fast at re-construction!’

North, South, East, West
The little lighthouse did his best……

But then with wisdom due to age
the Old lighthouse said something sage:

‘Shine’ cried the old lighthouse,
my top is polished lead-
just send your beam of light my way
and bounce it off my head!’

‘Together we can face the storm
through thunder and the rain-
To guide the ship to safety
and bring it home again!’

Waves crashed, lightening flashed!
together they were learning-
Their steady light has warned the crew
‘Look! From the rocks they’re turning!’

The people cheered and clapped their hands,
and shouted ‘Hip, Hooray’!
The two lighthouses- old and new
together saved the day!

So once a year to celebrate
A 15 gun salute-
A festival called ‘Lighthouse Day’
when sailors pay tribute!

You still can see the old lighthouse
and new lighthouse still blinking-
They both take care of Maloree
and save the ships from sinking!

And they lived happily, ever after………..