Katy always felt so ordinary,

But she yearned to be THE BEST.

How Katy dreamed of growing up –

Getting bigger than all the rest!

She was the runt of the hatch-out,

of all her sisters and brothers.

Her waspish waist, a mellow green,

Was puny next to the others.

What could she do to make her mark,

Thus to gain the world's attention?

She could break a high jump record

Or think up a great invention!

She plotted and she dreamed each day,

Just trying her best to decide,

But though she longed to be famous,

She was still just a coward inside.

Disregarding plan after plan,

Katy knew she was too afraid;

She'd never become a CHAMPION

Or boast of the name she had made.

Then one day, as Katy lay dozing

on the hood of a silver Toyota,

She felt a rumbling beneath her –

The human had started the motah!

She must have been sleeping soundly,

But now she woke up in a flash!

She stumbled across the windshield,

in dread of a horrible crash.

When she first had hopped on the car,

It was parked by her Maple tree home;

She'd snuggled into the wiper's groove –

to sulk by herself, all alone.

How in the world had this happened?

She was home when she drifted to sleep!

Now here she was, riding to SOMEWHERE;

She moaned – and she started to weep.

At first the car cruised thru the city,

Where she warily took in each sight.

Then, as they rode out to the suburbs,

Katy stood firm with all of her might.

Her two long antennae were windblown

as the car gained speed with each mile;

They streamed behind like long, flowing hair,

But Katy hung on all the while.

The humans inside were applauding;

They were rooting for her as they rode.

Cowardice fled as COURAGEOUS she stood;

A stunning bravado Kate showed!

Her tiny green feet were clinging tight;

Her skinny legs started to bow.

Her thin body swayed as she stood there –

and she fancied herself in a SHOW!

“I'm slipping, I'm sliding!

I'm grooving while I'm riding!

Shuffle to the left!

Shuffle to the right!

Shake those legs,

Then HANG ON TIGHT!

Whee, the wind takes my breath away –

Better squat down or I'll blow away!"

Then it dawned on her – she wouldn't survive;

How could she endure such a wild ride?

She regretted her foolish daydreams;

She should not have harbored such pride.

Struggling for breath, Katy faltered –

She feared she would not make it home;

(To tell the truth, this came quite close

to being a MEMORIAL poem!)

Our Katy turned out to be brave,

Much braver than she thought she'd be,

When the car stopped, she'd come through alive –

Worn out but happy, she whispered to me:

“I DID IT! I DID IT! I can hardly believe!

“Impossible dreams are hard to achieve.

“Gumption and faith are the keys to succeed.

“I did it! I did it! KATYDIDIT! --That's ME!”

This brave little insect hung on to the end;

Her family hurrahed; with joy she was greeted!

And from forest to glen, You can hear it:

Katydidit, she did it,” the story's repeated!

Now you know the legend of KATYDIDS,

And how we green bugs got our comical name.

We owe it to KATY, that PHENOMENAL BUG

Who defied all the odds to gain fortune and fame!

You had to be there to believe it, but I testify to the truth of this

accounting.  Katy made it   a l l    t h e    w a y    h o m e.