Additional Poems by Ned Nossaman

An Introduction to Ned Nossaman, ~ the “Rat” Poem

According to an actual account of a true event, and with a poignant moral conclusion.

A rat that Pat had captured on the south side of the house
was hardly any bigger than an ordinary mouse.
So Pat and Jill considered what's the cleanest, kindest way
to deal with the intruder and to put the rat away.

Should she smash him with a shovel? Should he grind him with his shoe?
(You let one rat into your house, then pretty soon there're two.)
Pat took the rat back to the yard and in a corner far
filled a Mason jar with water, dropped the rat, and topped the jar.

It seemed the quickest, kindest way was just to let it drown.
So Pat and Jill got in the car and headed off to town.
In town they did some shopping, ate some food, and saw a friend,
and spent a perfect evening till the evening had to end.

Finally, pulling in the driveway, Jill remarked to Pat, she said,
" We'd better throw that rat away, poor thing, by now it's dead." 
With a baggie and a flashlight to complete the grisly chore
they headed for the corner to behold the scene once more.

There they stood transfixed, astonished -- so ridiculous the pose --
for the rat had stretched to fullness and stood hard upon its toes,
while protruding from the water was its pink and breathing nose.

It was such a touching spectacle, it almost made them cry:
the saga of the valiant rat who didn't want to die.

Then they both spoke up together, "Take the rat and let him go,
for the rat has won its freedom!" Having said, they made it so.
Now they say that rat is breathing, ah, much easier these days.
And the moral of the story is that perseverance pays.

The Person, the Poet

Is the grateful, godfearing rat in aforementioned account. The only son of an off-Broadway actress and a Hollywood writer, Ned Nossaman spent his early years in New York City where most of his childhood was a blur. Educated in the South, he holds a Master’s degree in Education. Married on the island of Gibraltar, he and his wife-editor Mary Ellen (D.L. Meadows), speak fluent Spanish and have lived and traveled in many parts of the world. Having returned to the US from Mexico in 1969, they both came to know the Lord Jesus Christ, who has been the central force in their lives ever since. They have six children, and half of those children have produced eight more children. The author currently resides in Fullerton, California, where, nearby, he has taught Elementary, Middle and High School over the last decades. Nossaman tells kids that he is 150 years old and has lived five lives. And it is all, poetically, true.

He gives most of his free time to composing children’s verse, and occasionally visits public forums reading poems and poem-stories to children and hapless adults. “Poem-stories” is Ned’s favorite genre, although his largest collection of poetry is spiritual in nature, and he has written over 50 hymns as well.

He is most notably published in the educational field of Multiple Intelligences (cf. www.kaganonline.com Under “Products”, type “poems” in the search box, Find the How Are You Smart? Series by Edward Clarke). He has published Multiple Intelligence poems for Elementary through High School. Mr. Nossaman is also known for the effect that the reading of his works has on young people. To quote two of his younger and kinder (7th Grade) critics:

~ "That is the best and coolest poetry I’ve ever heard. Thank you for making me realize who I really am and what I really feel." Dristi

~ "I really enjoyed poetry. I never read poems, I’ve just read books. Your poem is the best I’ve ever heard. The way you use the words and organize them… The day you read the poem I had gotten into a fight with my best friend. I was so mad, but when you began reading I totally forgot about it. Just by hearing your poem calmed me down and brought me to peace. Well, I used to dream of being an author, but now I want to write poems like you. I’m serious about this". – Lilia