In the town of Grumblegroan,
Lived a curmudgeon all alone,
With a scowl so deeply sown,
His smile was rarely shown.

He'd mutter, "Humbug!" to the breeze,
And chase off kids from climbing trees,
But deep inside, with great unease,
He loved the antics of the bees.

One day a child with sunny cheer,
Skipped right up and stood so near,
She asked, "Why do you never hear,
The laughter ringing in your ear?"

The curmudgeon paused, then gave a sigh,
For in her eyes he caught the sky,
And with a twinkle by and by,
He let a chuckle slip and fly.

As days went by, the child returned,
With tales of wonder she had learned,
The curmudgeon listened, slowly yearned,
For joy his heart had long adjourned.

They'd sit and chat by the garden gate,
She'd talk of dreams and stars of fate,
He'd grumble, "It's getting late,"
But stayed to hear her tales so great.

One fine day, she brought a kite,
"Let's fly it high, up to the light!"
He grumbled, "Not in my sight!"
Yet joined her in the laughter bright.

Up the kite soared in the sky,
With colours dancing way up high,
The curmudgeon smiled, he couldn’t deny,
The joy reflected in his eye.

From that day forth, in Grumblegroan,
A friendship bloomed, a kindness grown,
For every heart, even stone,
Has a softness of its own.