"Bridget and the Bagpipe" by Robert McMinn, Second Place, 2018

Bridget and the Bagpipe

by Robert McMinn

Second Place, 2018

On Saturday it rained and poured,
lightning flashed and thunder roared.
She hated to be stuck inside.
“I’m bored to death,” young Bridget sighed.

She made a puzzle, played with blocks,
she even rearranged her socks.
She read a book, and then she drew,
but soon ran out of things to do.

To her mother, Bridget cried,
“There’s NOTHING to do, here inside.”
“Bridget, don’t be so dramatic.
Why don’t you explore the attic?”
“Up the stairs you’ll find a trunk
filled with lots of family junk--
a wealth to occupy your mind.
Who knows what you just might find?”

It pleased Bridget beyond measure
that she could search for hidden treasure,
buried in that dusty case
high up in the attic space.

She popped the lid and dug around
and just what do you think she found?
A shirt, a dress, a coat, a hat,
a collar that might fit a cat.

And then, to her complete surprise
something magic caught her eyes.
She gathered up and took it down
to ask her mother what she’d found.
“A bagpipe, dear,” her mother said,
as secretly she filled with dread.
“Blow Bridget, hard as you can.
Eeek!” said her mom, “We need a plan.”

“First you’ll learn your notes and scales
and practice very hard.
Play practice chanter in the house
And bagpipes outside in the yard.”

 Bridget got a chanter
so she could practice every day.
Then she got a teacher
who would showed her how to play.

She practiced in the morning.
She practiced after school.
She practiced in the kitchen,
in her room, and by the pool.

She practiced playing marches.
She practiced playing airs.
She practiced walking ‘round the house
and sitting in a chair.

 She practiced her embellishments
while lying on her bed.
She practiced ‘til her lips were chapped
and ‘til her face turned red.

 But before she knew it,
she was playing lots of tunes
Bridget was surprised a bit
that she’d caught on so soon.
Now, Bridget is a piper.
She wears a kilt and bonnet.
She fills the bagpipe up with air
and plays great music on it.
Bridget pipes most every day
and when at last she’s done,
she thanks her mom for helping
to make her music fun
Set your mind right to it.
You can do most anything.
As with once-forgotten pipes,
a little girl made sing.