There Was an Old Man

There Was an Old Man is a whimsical political picture poem about power, money, promises, and the strange things people are asked to accept when those in charge insist everything is going exactly as planned.

Told in a playful, repeating style inspired by classic children's rhyme structures, the story follows an old man who wants a perfect blue pond. But as the pond becomes more expensive, more polluted, more controlled, and more guarded, the simple dream begins to look less innocent. Fourteen million dollars disappear. The algae spreads. Bottles are poured. The pond begins to peel. Collectors are punished. Guards appear. And still, the question remains:

Perhaps we've been conned.

With bold red, blue, and black illustrations, this book uses simple imagery and rhythmic repetition to create a story that can be read as silly, strange, funny, or sharply satirical. Children may enjoy the odd little tale of a king-like old man and his troubled pond, while older readers may notice the deeper questions underneath: Who pays for power? Who benefits from public spectacle? And what happens when a problem grows because no one wants to admit it was handled badly?

Written under the pseudonym Dr. L. Cole, There Was an Old Man blends nursery-rhyme humor with political commentary in a way that is intentionally indirect, symbolic, and open to interpretation.

A strange pond.
A costly plan.
A crowd of watchers.
And one repeating suspicion:

Perhaps we've been conned.