Hawkins Hollow Nursery Rhymes
Tiptoe Mailbox Morning Rhyme B
“Tap-tap, wait; check once, then play.” The actual engine is notice → listen → check once → step back → choose. Spencer notices the empty mailbox flag and listens; Austin checks the box once, closes it, and steps back. The child may choose a kind next step—say “We can wait”—or a silly next step—make a tiny “stamp-tap-tip.”
Rhyme
Tiptoe Mailbox Morning
Old stump school—tap, tap, wait;
Spencer listened by the gate.
Nothing new came down the way;
“We can check just once today.”
Pond stones—tiptoe, slow and light;
Austin checked the box just right.
Empty now, so close it tight;
Step back softly, keep the path clear.
Riverside bend—what shall we choose?
“We can wait,” and rest our shoes—
Or whisper silly, “Stamp-tap-tip!”
Then find one quiet game to pick.
Maple leaves in evening blue
Made pretend stamp-taps drift through.
Tap-tap, wait; check once, then play;
Helpers bring the mail another day.
About This Rhyme
Performance style: Spoken or lightly chanted with two knee taps, a listening pause, a step-back gesture, and a child-chosen kind or silly response.
Estimated spoken length: About 45–60 seconds with echoes.
Ways to Join In
- Tap: tap knees twice or watch.
- Listen: pause for one comfortable beat.
- Check once: mime opening and closing an imaginary box one time; do not approach a real mailbox without a trusted grown-up.
- Step back: move one hand or one foot gently away, or indicate clear space.
- Choose: say “We can wait” or whisper “stamp-tap-tip.”
- Participation may be spoken, signed, gestured, seated, moving, or watching. Waiting does not require silence or stillness; the rhyme redirects attention after one check.