Horton Hears a Who - Prose

On the fifteenth of May, in the Jungle of Nool
In the heat of the day, in the cool of the pool,

He was splashing… enjoying the jungle’s great joys…
When Horton the elephant heard a small noise

So Horton stopped splashing. He looked toward the sound.
“That’s funny,” thought Horton. “There’s no one around.”

“I’ll help you,” said Horton. “But who are you? Where?”
He looked and he looked. He could see nothing there
But a small speck of dust blowing past through the air.

“So you know what I think? … Why, I think that there must
Be someone on top of that small speck of dust”

Some sort of a creature of very small size,
Too small to be seen by an elephant’s eyes…

“ … some poor little person who’s shaking with fear
That he’ll blow in the pool! He has no way to steer!

I’ll have to save him. Because, after all,
A person’s a person, no matter how small.”

20-40% of America’s homeless population is entirely missed in the decennial census according to “CEPR.org”.

These humans, their emotions, their genius, their uniqueness, and- most of all- the entirety of their value is masked by their state of being unhoused.

Through these governmental miscalculations, their word is deemed worthless.

In Dr. Seuss’s children’s novel Horton Hears a Who, Horton the elephant presents us our duty in this worldly situation.

Horton leads by example, teaching us that it is up to us to give value to the fleeting lives around us all

by bringing out the voice hidden within each silenced individual- no matter how small.

So, gently, and using the greatest of care,
The elephant stretched his great trunk through the air,

And he lifted the dust speck and carried it over
And placed it down, safe, on a very soft clover

“Humpf!” humpfed a voice. “Twas a sour kangaroo.
And the young kangaroo in her pouch said “Humpf!” too.

“Why, that speck is as small as the head of a pin.
A person on that? … Why, there never has been!”

“I know there’s a person down there. And, what’s more,
Quite likely there’s two. Even three. Even four.

Quite likely … a family, for all that we know!
A family with children just starting to grow.

So, please,” Horton said, “as a favor to me,
Try not to disturb them. Just please let them be.”

You’re the biggest blame fool in the Jungle of Nool!:
And the kangaroos plunged in the cool of the pool.

“I’ve got to protect them. I’m bigger than they.”
So he plucked up the clover and hustled away.

Through the high jungle tree tops, the news quickly spread:
“He talks to a dust speck! He’s out of his head!

I can’t put it down. And I won’t! After all
A person’s a person. No matter how small.”

Then Horton stopped walking.
The speck voice was talking!

“My friend,” came the voice, “you’re a very fine friend.
You’ve helped all us folks on this dust speck no end.

“I know,” called the voice, “I’m too small to be seen
But I’m Mayor of a town that is friendly and clean.

My town is called Who-ville, for I am a Who
And we Whos are all thankful and grateful to you.”

And Horton called back to the Mayor of the town,
“You’re safe now. Don’t worry. I won’t let you down.”

But, just as he spoke to the Mayor of the speck,
Three big jungle monkeys climbed up Horton’s neck!

He begged, “Please don’t harm all my little folks, who
Have as much right to live as us bigger folks do!”

“Humpf!” Humpfed a voice!
“And I’m here to state,” snapped the big kangaroo,

“That’s your silly nonsensical game is all through!”
And the young kangaroo in her pouch said, “Me, too!”

And, as for your dust speck… hah! That we shall boil
In a hot steaming kettle of Beezle-Nut oil!”

“Boil it?…” gasped Horton!
“Oh, that you can’t do!

It’s all full of persons!
They’ll prove it to you!”

“Mr. Mayor! Mr. Mayor!” Horton called. “Mr. Mayor!
You’ve got to prove now that you really are there!

So call a big meeting. Get every one Who.
Or they will end up in a Beezle-Nut stew!”

And his people cried loudly. They cried out in fear:
“We are here! We are here! We are here! We are here!”

The elephant smiled: “That was clear as a bell.
You kangaroos surely heard that very well.”.

I heard no small voices. And you didn’t either.”
And the young kangaroo in her pouch said, “Me, neither.”

They beat him! They mauled him! They started to haul
Him into his cage! But he managed to call

To the Mayor: “Don’t give up! I believe in you all!
A person’s a person, no matter how small”

Are you sure every Who down in Who-ville is working?
Quick! Look through your town! Is there anyone shirking?”

He HAD to find someone to help him make more.
He raced through each building! He searched floor-to-floor!

He discovered one shirker! Quite hidden away
In the Fairfax Apartments (Apartment 12-J)

A very small, very small shirker
“We’ve GOT to make noises in greater amounts!
So, open your mouth, lad! For every voice counts!”

They’ve proved they ARE persons, no matter how small.
And their whole world was saved by the Smallest of All!”

“How true! Yes, how true,” said the big kangaroo.
“And, from now on, you know what I’m planning to do?…

From now on, I’m going to protect them with you!”
And the young kangaroo in her pouch said, … “ME, TOO!”

“From sun in the summer. From rain when it’s fall-ish,
I’m going to protect them. No matter how small-ish!