A collection of bead poetry, by none other than Happy Mango Beads Facebook fans! Rudi began with a single line, “I was in Bangkok searching for a bead…” and the rhyming ensued. We still need your help titling all of these fun poems. Please comment with your title suggestions. Let the fun continue!

‎“A child in need starts with one bead” by Joan Hewett
I was in Bangkok looking for beads,
but I wasn’t sure where to find my leads.
I looked through the stalls to find the right ones,
but my eyes were captured by the young ones.
And at that moment no bead would suffice,
to help these dear children, who had so many plights.
I did what I could to assuage their needs,
and so there in Bangkok, I had reaped more than beads.

(title to be added) collaboration by Patti Yates McDermott, Christine Haynes, HarrietAnn Seiner Litwin, Sally Iovene Haase, and Mary Montague Evans
I was in Bangkok searching for a bead,
But my mouth was hungry, and my belly needing to feed.
A dude came and asked me hey, what do you need?
When he offered me Pad Thai I paid them no heed…
Som Tam please! And would you be so kind as to give me a bead lead?
A man walked up and said “I’ve got a lead”. Go get some beads at a shop called Mango,
You can step right in and do the tango!

‎(title to be added) by Von Colette
I was in Bangkok searching for a bead.
I know I’ll find a bead for my every need,
but stick to the budget I thought we agreed!
Too many to choose and there isn’t one I want to lose…
Man, I think I need a little snooze, maybe than I can choose?
Nope, went home with all the beads and no shoes!

(title to be added) collaboration by Corrin Hayes, Cheryl Woods Renteria, Faye Hadfield, and Cathy Esterline
I was in Bangkok searching for a bead.
I saw something, and jumped off my trusty steed.
I took a look, my head I shook. Alas, it’s only a seed:
A seed is a seed but a bead is a bead, I thought to myself.
But wait – couldn’t a seed be a bead?
Yes indeed! And I found the most wonderful seed bead, yes sir indeed.

(title to be added) by Jeanene Long
I was in Bangkok searching for a bead, I looked high and looked low but I found no real lead.
When a man from the market reached out his hand. Should I shake it?
Oh gosh, its not the custom in this land.
He looked at me gently and quietly said, “If you take this and keep it, it will show you the way.
It’s the people who make them, that’s who you will meet.
It’s the journey you’ll treasure, a memory to keep.”
So I reached out to accept the gift from this man and he set it so gently in my trembling hand.
I must have looked like a child on Christmas day.
Was it glass? Was it gold? How much will it weigh?
If beads are a passion then you’ll know this is true;
It will change as you watch it… sometime green sometimes blue.
This magical bead took me on a great carpet ride,
in the country, the city… no more could a bead hide,
They’re like children I think: love the bad, love the good, give them homes, keep them safe.
They will stay with you waiting, “Oh pick me” they will say,
By design they are faithful and just want to play.
So my story began 50 years ago, I picked my first paper bead up at an antiques show.
The bug, yeah it bit me and life’s just not the same,
so I wait for the next time when travel calls my name.
It might be rare or simply made from an old coconut,
but its the journey, the people, the thrill of the hunt.

(title to be added) by Lorraine Johnson
I was in Bangkok searching for a bead…
I looked all around, there were none that met my need.
Continued to search no treasure to be found,
Suddenly a child with the treasured beads tightly bound.
As I approached in awe fear rose in his eyes, he ran away and was no where to be found.
My longing continues, the search never ends so I search out Happy Mango hoping my treasure will be found.

(title to be added) collaboration by Tee Equality Martin, Cheryl Woods Renteria, Sharon James, Mary Amanda Barthel-Hall Eddings, Tamara Crowley, Levi Oliver Frizzell, Tiffany Adams, and Amy Nylander Van Walsen
I was in Bangkok searching for a bead,
Seeking out something special to fit my need,
Looking for a place where I can go to buy awesome beads.
On the sidewalk was a peacock wishing me godspeed,
Then a voice in an alley said, “Lady, come with me.”
A million beads to meet my every need…
A box full of findings and a string of good thread.
Got everything I wanted and most of what I need.
I rushed to my toolbox:
I knew what to create with them, the tools did fly.
I got a vision with some bling in my eye!