The Gecko and his Echo

There once was a gecko

Without any echo.

It caused him a great deal of shame.

Every day he would go

To the canyon below

And call out his ridiculous name.

“Grackle-targle-tee-doh

Phil-a-ranking-ton-toe!”

Cried the gecko, then added, “The Third!”

Then he’d angle his ear

In the hopes that he’d hear

It repeated—but never a word!

Oh the sadness and sorrow,

Today and tomorrow,

Our lizard friend felt from his lack!

He may have sticky feet,

But he felt incomplete

With no echo to answer him back!

It went on, day by day,

In the very same way.

He would try for an echo, and fail.

To the canyon he’d go,

Call his name high and low.

He tried hard, but to little avail.

Then, one hot afternoon

In the third week of June,

He climbed out on a rocky outcropping.

He puffed up like a lime,

Then this one final time

He prepared for some heavy name-dropping.

“Grackle-targle-tee-doh

Phil-a-ranking-ton— OH!”

In surprise, he had snapped his jaw shut!

For before he got through it,

The rocks listened to it,

And sent back an echoing “WHAT?!”

Well, the gecko was shocked,

And he nearly was knocked

On his bottom in startled surprise.

Then he started to grin,

For this felt like a win

After so many frustrating tries.

He repeated his name,

But was stopped just the same

By the echo, confused as could be.

“There’s a reason,” it sighed,

“Why I’ve never replied—

I can’t tell what you’re saying to me!”

“Just my name,” said the gecko.

“Oh won’t you please echo

It back? After all, it’s your job!”

“Listen, gecko,” it said,

“Can’t you call yourself Fred?

Or Tyrone? Or Ricardo? Or Bob?

“If a short name you call,

I’ll remember it all!

Doesn’t matter how quiet or loud.”

But the gecko called, “NO!”

To the canyon below.

“It’s a good name, important and proud!”

Well, the wind whistled by

Through the air, hot and dry,

But the echo was totally quiet.

Then it whispered, “Okay.

If you’ll teach me the way,

I suppose it won’t hurt me to try it.”

Cried the gecko, “Of course!”

Then he laughed himself hoarse.

“And don’t worry if you make mistakes!

"We can start it off slow,

You can learn as you go,

And I’ll stay here as long as it takes!”

So he patiently taught,

And his friend heard and thought,

Which was more than enough for the pair.

And the name of that gecko

Forever will echo

Triumphantly over the air!