Thank You, Stegosaurus
for everything
when I was four, I knew you for the first time
I could see you so clearly
the Stegosaurus
your name was among the first I ever knew
out of all of the dinosaurs
and I instantly loved you
in my mind, you were kind and caring
and you loved to talk to me
you weren’t scary like the Tyrannosaurus
and I liked that about you
I wondered to myself
if any T-rex ever made fun of you
for being so peaceful and gentle
the way the boys in my class
who loved the mean Tyrannosaurus
made fun of me
and it made me feel connected to you
you and I ran together
through the landscape of my mind
we played and rolled around together in the grass
we were best friends, you and I
I went with you wherever you would go
I crawled on all fours to emulate you
I chewed foul tasting leaves with my mouth hanging wide open
and pretended I loved the taste as much as you did
eventually, I convinced myself I had
—
when I was six, we were out together playing
me and my best Stegosaurus friend
and one day, I touched the plates on your back
and asked you what they were for
but you never told me
you never spoke to me at all after that day
maybe I hurt your feelings by asking
maybe you were embarrassed of those plates
maybe you didn’t know what they were there for
but I didn’t know, either
it was okay—you didn’t have to know
you didn’t have to feel stupid for it
like I did
—
when I was nine, I knew I wanted to be a writer
and that became more important than anything
even you, Stegosaurus
but you were still important to me
we were still friends
and I still loved you
so I wrote you into my stories
I think you became a little less real, then
than you had been in my mind
but I could still see you clearly
the plates on your back, the spikes on your tail
your slow, steady walk on all fours
the plants you ate, the lands you grazed
but in my stories, you were alone
I wasn’t beside you on my human hands and knees
because I couldn’t be
I was embarrassed to be
not embarrassed of you, Stegosaurus
but of myself
I seemed so much less significant
being there next to you
even as your friend
so by the power of my own pencil
I made myself disappear from our story
and it became your story instead
I let myself fade away from you
I let you take the wheel
I let you stomp the earth by storm
—
by the time I was eleven, I was a chronic reader
I got caught reading a book about you
(I didn’t know you were a reptile, Stegosaurus
you never told me that)
in my fifth grade classroom
and for some reason
my stomach sank when my teacher held it up
for all to see
I stared at the Tyrannosaurus on the cover
as it was all I could do
you kids still love your dinosaurs, she said
and the classroom bellowed with laughter
—
when I was thirteen, I stopped thinking about you
not because I didn’t care about you, Stegosaurus
I just didn’t know you anymore
now that I understood you
I couldn’t know you like I used to
I didn’t hear you
I didn’t see you
I knew all there was to know about you
I learned that no T-rex ever made fun of you
because you never even existed
at the same time as them
you never made it that far
I no longer loved you like I used to
I no longer defended your small brain
or your kindness
I let you go completely
I let you slip from our playtime, our stories
I let you fade into a memory
of something that formed me
(even though deep down, I didn’t want to
deep down, I wanted to play with you again)
but I couldn’t pay those thoughts any mind
because more than anything now
I wanted to be a grown up, Stegosaurus
and grown ups don’t care about dinosaurs
—
when I turned twenty-two a week ago
I was going through old things
when I found the book about you
with the big Tyrannosaurus on the cover
I huffed a laugh
he always gets the spotlight, I thought
both him and you
so I thought about you again
and a warmth spread in my chest
like the hot sun beaming down on my spirit
I realized something for the first time—
adults do care about dinosaurs, I thought
of course they do
how could they not?
adults are the reason we know about dinosaurs
without them
we would have a world full of oblivious children
that would have never been able to play with you
to write stories about you
to imagine you
or make you their best friend
I opened the book in my lap
and smiled down at you
and it felt like smiling down at my younger self
thank you, Stegosaurus
for inspiring me in my youth
for letting me make a home of you
About the Creator
angela hepworth
Hello! I’m Angela and I enjoy writing fiction, poetry, reviews, and more. I delve into the dark, the sad, the silly, the sexy, and the stupid. Come check me out!
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Reader insights
Outstanding
Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!
Top insights
Excellent storytelling
Original narrative & well developed characters
Compelling and original writing
Creative use of language & vocab
Eye opening
Niche topic & fresh perspectives
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
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By Crystal Cane3 days ago in Chapters
Comments (38)
Despite not being into dinosaurs much, I found this to be a sweet story about dear old Stegosaurus. I suspect T-Rex is one reason why Dinos haven’t been popular with me… too violent😵💫.
This is so sweet. Stegosaurus was definitely one of the coolest dinosaurs. I loved this line: (I didn’t know you were a reptile, Stegosaurus you never told me that) I remember a similar feeling around 13 years old, when I felt I had to give up reading Enid Blyton because I was too old. :(
This is beautiful. The "13" section was especially moving- maybe because my youngest is 13 and in that similar space, I think. An emotional journey for sure.
Nice 👍 I like this story, keep rocking.
Wow, you took me on a ride. From youthful innocence to growing up and letting go of your inner child. Great entry and the best of luck to you
That was absolutely beautiful! Reminded me of my own childhood and my fascination for dinosaurs. I love how the stegosaurus came back into your life in the form of your prose. You write beautifully and indeed, gave your friend the home they deserve. Wonderful work
Love the poem🥰... Please subscribe to me that will help me grow in this domain
Dear Angela, your poem beautifully captures the innocence and wonder of childhood, where the Stegosaurus played a significant role in your young imagination. The way you vividly describe your connection with this gentle dinosaur evokes a sense of pure and genuine affection. The comparison between the Stegosaurus and the intimidating Tyrannosaurus showcases your appreciation for kindness and peace, qualities that resonated with you even at a young age. The poem also touches upon the relatable theme of feeling different or misunderstood, drawing a parallel between your own experiences and the imagined possibility of the Stegosaurus facing similar challenges among the dinosaurs. This reflection adds depth to the poem and invites empathy from the reader. Your gratitude towards the Stegosaurus for inspiring you and providing a sense of comfort and belonging is heartfelt. It speaks to the power of imagination and the impact that certain figures or symbols can have on shaping our identities and fostering creativity. Overall, your poem beautifully captures a nostalgic moment of appreciation and gratitude, blending elements of innocence, imagination, and personal reflection. It reminds us of the profound influence that even fictional creatures can have on our lives, sparking inspiration and creating a sense of belonging. Thank you for sharing this heartfelt piece. Our daughter is 4 years old now. She likes to draw dinosaur graffiti, including Tyrannosaurus Rex and Stegosaurus, but she hates Tyrannosaurus Rex because she thinks Tyrannosaurus Rex will eat other dinosaurs. She said it was a bad dinosaur, but she liked Stegosaurus very much, because it was a rare herbivorous dinosaur among dinosaurs and had a mild nature. She said it was a good dinosaur. A few days ago, we just made a video on YouTube to discuss our daughter's graffiti about dinosaurs. We put the link here and very welcome you to visit our YouTube, which has four channels with different topics. https://youtu.be/OkGKuUhX8Ms
Beautiful
Congrats on a highly merited Top Story and good luck in the Challenge : )
You cover pic is lovely, your story just as lovely. Congrats on TS.
Great poem...loved it. Congratulations on your Top Story
Congrats! Love the image you used!
Congratulations, you've done a great job!
WOW! best job Angela. Congratulations on top story!
Beautifully written! Well-done Angela! Deservedly so congrats on top story!! 💌🥳🎉🥳🎉
I had a great time reading this, Angela. congrats!
Your poem beautifully intertwines elements of gratitude and wonder, weaving a tapestry of appreciation for the ancient and majestic Stegosaurus. From the opening lines, you transported me to a world where prehistoric creatures roamed, and your vivid descriptions brought the Stegosaurus to life in my mind's eye. What struck me most about your poem was the sense of reverence and admiration you conveyed for this magnificent creature. Through your words, I could feel the awe and wonder that you experienced in the presence of the Stegosaurus, and it left a profound impression on me. Furthermore, your poetic craftsmanship is truly commendable. The rhythm and flow of your verses, coupled with your rich imagery and evocative language, created a mesmerizing reading experience that I won't soon forget. Thank you for sharing your talent and creativity with the world through your writing. "Thank You, Stegosaurus" is a testament to your ability to capture the beauty and majesty of the natural world in all its glory. I look forward to exploring more of your work and discovering the wonders that you continue to unearth through your poetry. Warm regards, Dr. Jay
Loved it!!! Congratulations on Top Story!!!💕❤️❤️
Oh such a sweet piece!! He loves you back and congratulations on TS! 👏🎊
I read your story can you read my story I'm a begginer in this plateform and I need some support plz thanks a lot 🙏
Oof. This was so touching. Great writing Angela and a smashing top story to boot.
Back to say congratulations on your Top Story! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊
S.K. Wilson - ditto. I had this vision of little Angela in my head as I read it. Charming.
Story poems are the coolest! Congratulations Top Story-an!