The untranslated version of the storybook "Lahat ng Hindi mo Nakikita," written and illustrated by The Mover for POUCh 2024.
There once was a boy named Henry,
And there was so much he could not see!
I could give you a list, but there’s too many!
Let me tell you, it’s definitely more than three!
It was late at night after school,
So late that you could see the moon from outside!
He felt a little grumble in his tummy,
And made his way to the kitchen inside!
He pushed the dining room chairs,
And stacked them up like pancakes!
His eyes were locked on the jar of cookies,
On the very, very, very highest shelf!
With a proud smile on his face,
He climbed the tall mountain,
With so much balance and grace!
He reached with his arms and wiggled his fingers,
He even tiptoed like a ballerina on stage!
But there the cookie jar sat,
On the very, very high shelf, untouched in its place.
There once was a boy named Henry,
And, man, there was so much he could not see.
I’d write it all down for you, but there’s plenty—
The list would be bigger than the sea!
Henry was playing on the playground,
All alone and lonely as can be.
He watched as the other kids laughed together,
While playing hide and seek!
Henry watched as they counted and hid away,
He hated how they never asked him to play.
And if there was one thing he could definitely see,
It’s that, “They all have fun, but never with me...”
He sat on an empty wooden bench,
His eyes filled with watery tears.
He crossed his arms and looked at the ground,
Why couldn’t he get along with his peers?
The days flew past like this,
With poor Henry all alone.
His class was supposed to be like family,
But he had never felt at home.
Soon it was December,
The season for knitted scarves and toys!
But Henry had to remember,
“It’s not merry when you have nothing to be grateful for!”
He walked inside the Christmas party,
Being greeted by a big Christmas tree!
It was alone in the middle of the room,
Standing for everyone to see!
It shined and it sparkled,
It sent joy all around the room!
Everyone danced and held hands,
It casted away any sort of gloom!
But then Henry remembered,
He couldn’t join them as they enjoy—
Christmas was for those who were wanted,
Not for lonely boys!
Before he could turn around,
A hand had caught his arm,
He thought, “Who could this be and what could they want?”
A sweet girl, her hair tied in braids,
Asked him in a sweet sing-song voice:
“Would you like to join us?
Come on, it’s Christmas time!
Christmas is for everyone,
Always keep that in mind!”
Henry stopped in his tracks and stared.
He couldn’t believe his eyes!
He blinked and he wiped his glasses,
Was what he was seeing right?
The girl grabbed his hand and dragged him to the dance floor.
He looked around in awe,
With hands still joined, he danced along with everyone!
Who knew this could be so much fun?
As the night ended, Henry spent it smiling.
He had never thought he could feel so loved,
But it had just been a matter of time.
Henry took off his glasses and was stunned,
He could barely see, but the lights were still so bright!
The girl sat beside him and his heartstrings tugged!
“This was a wonderful way to end the night!”
There once was a boy named Henry,
And, well, there was so much he could not see.
I would tell you every single story,
But I think you’d already agree!
“Everything I couldn’t see included love,
They cared for me but I never knew!
I can see that now, looking from above and below,
Everything you loved, included me too!”