The Man Who Loved Being Green--A Tribute to Jim Henson
He made puppets in high school
Then tried a different track
With Studio Arts in college
But a puppetry class called back
A degree in Home Economics
And a hit called "Sam and Friends"
Where he made his alter ego
Using materials that felt more like him
The way they talked, the way they moved
Freeing them up from strings
He still had his doubts, so to Europe he went
Where puppets were art, not mere things
Returning he dated and married his Jane
Who had helped him with the "Sam" show
Making commercials got him his start
And his "muppet" vision would grow
Going beyond what mere humans could do
Entertainment for everyone
Children would laugh, but so did adults
For the puppet world's favorite son
So Muppets, Inc went to New York City
Jane home with three of their five
He hired Jerry and Oz to write and perform
And Muppets, Inc started to thrive
Rowlf on a network show
Playing piano regularly
Short films like "Time Piece"
Nominated by the Academy
Then one day a lady
From Children's TV
Asked him to create characters
and a Sesame Street
Big Bird and Kermit
Oscar, Bert and Ernie
Cookie Monster and Elmo
And the game host Guy Smiley
The Muppets were separate
At first but soon joined
The humans and skits
And a new thing was born
The Muppet Show followed
But America was skittish
Would this new thing catch on?
So he turned to the British
Miss Piggy and Kermit
Gonzo the Great
Fozzie Bear, Rowlf and Beaker
The Swedish Chef we all ate
Up and clamored
For more and for more
Dr. Teeth, Electric Mayhem
Let Animal out the door
They conquered the Brits
America, the world
And when it couldn't get better
"The Muppet Movie" unfurled
61st grossing movie of all time
For the man who would be green
His workers saw him as Kermit
The most likeable boss ever seen
He agreed with the comparison
"He can say what I hold back"
The way Kermit ran the muppet show
Was this man's friendly tact
A shy gentle boss
With a "whim of steel"
Never saying "I don't like"
"Hmmm" or "Lovely" and made you feel
In the presence of greatness
A wizard of art
Making a "Rainbow Connection"
From the mind to the heart
Like his creation
"Do not try, do"
He inspired us and showed us
How to make dreams come true
©Winsome Publishing 2011, All rights reserved
This is a tribute to Jim Henson who is the only one to have a Star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame as himself and another one alongside as his alter ego, Kermit the Frog
