For Kids, By Kids

Re-Bop Records RB111 — ©2005

1) A is for “About People” poems

2) PEEPHOLE

(Knock knock knock)
(Lucas! Open the door)
I can’t reach the peephole at
the motel where we sleep, oh
who’s that at the door? I
don’t know ‘cause I’m too short, so
I can’t reach the peephole at
the motel where we sleep, oh
well.

3) MOMSICLE, POPSICLE! (for 6 voices!)

Grampa: BIcycle, TRIcycle, Baby’s running WILDsicle!
Child: POPsicle! MOM sicle! come & find your CHILDsicle!

Mom: OHsicle, MYsickle! Where ever could she BEsicle?
Big Sis: DON’Tsicle CRYsickle! she’s out getting a CREAMsicle!

Dad: OHsicle HECKsickle! She should be in her ROOMsicle!
Big Sis: GOsicle CHECKsicle! She flew off on her BROOMstickle!

Mom: OHsickle GEEsickle! Where could that girl BEsickle?
Big Sis: On the carouselsickle! Getting slightly SEAsickle!

Child: OHsickle NOsickle! Where’d everybody GOsickle?
Grampa: Your MAWsicle & PAWsicle are down on the SEESAWsicle!

Parents: WHOAsickle! The groundsickle is going up and DOWNsickle.
Big Sis: Looksicle! SEEsickle? My Sister’s finally foundsickle!

Child: Vanilla on a STICKsickle! Want some of my Creamsickle?
Mom: I’d LIKEsickle a LICKsickle to go with my dill PICKLEsickle!

Child: YUKsickle!I CKsicle! Mommy must be SICKsickle! OR ELSE——
Big Sis: SHE’Ssickle with CHILDsickle!Bet he’s born to be WILDsickle!

Kids: MOMsickle! POPsickle! Isn’t Nighttime NICEsickle?
Parents: HIPsickle HOPsickle! Now off to beddy BYEcycle!

4) TIM’D BE TIMID

Tim’d be Timmy if he were a kid
but Tim turned 15 (at least I think he did)
and Tim’d be “TIMOTHY!”, if he misbehaved
and Tim’d be Timid if he wasn’t brave

Tim’d be cleancut if it weren’t for his hair
being dyed orange and sticking out every which where
and Tim’s so athletic you could call him a jock
but Tim has a temper so you better not!

Tim’s got big puppy feet, big as they get .
Tim’d be tall I bet, but he’s not yet.
Tim has the gentlest puppy dog eyes.
Tim’d have girlfriends if he wasn’t so shy.

Tim would play drums all day if he could
or Tim would skateboard through the whole neighborhood.
Tim’d be different if his name was Dave
and Tim’d be Timid if he wasn’t brave

5) I’M EMILY

I’m Emily.
Know what I live on?
It’s a grassy slope sits
on Spectacle Pond

My family
goes up to three
I can hog my parents
‘cause I’m only me.

I’m Emily.
Know what I wake up to?
some ducks that swim
they’re friends, so there’s two.

In the early morning,
Know what sound I hear?
A loud horn played
by an train engineer.

I’m Emily.
Know what dog is mine?
He’s a rotweiler and
a hound dog combined.

Smart as me,
he even pulls wheelchairs
“Speak Spike, Speak”
He barks, and bites the air.

Samantha Ann—
she’s my calico cat
I put her on my head,
and wear her like a hat.

In my fishtank, Psycho
flaps his fins
beyond the mermaid
his craziness ends.

I’m Emily.
Did you see my bird?
Whenever I say something,
Pete says the same word.

“Emily, Emily.”
You know what is nice?
When I say a word,
Peat says it twice—Emily, “Emily, Emily”

I’m Emily.
I have a mom and a dad
Sometimes they’re pretty good,
Sometimes pretty bad.

I’m Emily.
We live on a lake.
In summer, we go swimming
and eat icecream cake.

I’m Emily.
and that’s all there is
in our cozy house
where my family lives.
. . . . .

She’s Emily
Now who are you?
To write your own poem,
Here’s what you do.

Just say your name
and the place where you live
and the people and animals
you live with.

and the sounds you hear
and the sights you see
and the stories that make you
different than me!

If you don’t exactly
know how to begin,
Say, “I’m So and So—
Know What I live in?”

And when you get stuck
say your name again
and a question like
“Know what I play with my friend?”

Then answer yourself
and before too long,
you’ve got your own poem
or make it a song.

If you don’t know how,
just go for a walk
and sing your thoughts,
instead of talk.

That’s all there is to it
It’s easy, you’ll see,
and when you’re done
send it to Emily—

Emily Lindbeck
Spectacle Pond
Littleton, Mass. care of
Kathy and John!

6) I AM ME (2 voices)

The Shade is cool The sun is hot
The night is dark The day is not
The sky is blue The lake is too!
I am me and You are you!

You are you and I am me! Alike and different as can be!
Like night and day, we get along fine We’re one of the crowd,we’re one of a kind!

I got big bones, Yours are small Your hair’s short, Mine is tall
I laugh alot, and you do too! I am me and You are you!

7) LITTLE ORPHANT ANNIE

(by J.W.Riley)

To all the little children:—The happy ones; and sad ones;
The sober and the silent ones; the boisterous and glad ones;
The good ones—Yes, the good ones, too; and all the lovely bad ones.

LIttle Orphant Annie’s come to our house to stay,
An’ wash the cups an’ saucers up, an’ brush the crumbs away,
An’ shoo the chickens off the porch, an’ dust the hearth, an’ sweep,
An’ make the fire, an’ bake the bread, an’ earn her board-an’-keep;
An’ all us other children, when the supper-things is done,
We set around the kitchen fire an’ has the mostest fun
A-list’nin’ to the witch-tales’at Annie tells about
An the Gobble-uns ‘ll git you
Ef you Don’t Watch Out!

Wunst they wuz a little boy wouldn’t say his prayers,—
An’ when he went to bed at night, away upstairs,
His Mammy heerd him holler, an’ his Daddy heerd him bawl,
An’ when they turn’t the kivvers down, he wuzn’t there at all!
An’ they seeked him in the rafter room, an’ cubbyhole, an’ press,
An’ seeked him up the chimbly-flue, an’ ever’wheres, I guess;
But all they ever found wuz thist his pants an’ roundabout:—
An the Gobble-uns ‘ll git you
Ef you Don’t Watch Out!

An’ one time a little girl ‘ud allus laugh an’ grin,
An’ make fun of ever’one, an’ all her blood-an’-kin;
An’ wunst, when they was “company,” an’ ole folks wuz there,
She mocked ‘em an’ shocked ‘em, an’ said she didn’t care!
An’ thist as she kicked her heels, anturn’t to run an’ hide,
They wuz two great big Black Things a-standin’ by her side,
An’ they snatched her through the ceilin’ ‘fore she knowed what she’s about!
An the Gobble-uns ‘ll git you
Ef you Don’t Watch Out!

An’ little Orphant Annie says, when the blaze is blue,
An’ the lamp-wick sputters, an’ the wind goes woo-oo!
An’ you hear the crickets quit, an’ the moon is gray,
An’ the lightnin’-bugs in dew is all squenched away,—
You better mind yer parunts, an’ yer teachurs fond an’ dear,
An churish them ‘at loves you, an’ dry the orphant’s tear,
An’ he’p the pore an’ needy ones ‘at clusters all about,
Er the Gobble-uns ‘ll git you
Ef you Don’t Watch Out!

8) B is for “Body Part” poems

9) I LIKE MY BANGS THIS SIZE!

I like my bangs this size
I like them down to here
I like them in my eyes
When I look in the mirror

I like my clothes to clash
and colors to go strange
I’m starting a new fashion,
so please don’t say to change

And what’s a little dirt?
It shows I BEEN someplace!
I KNOW soap doesn’t hurt,
But use it on my sister’s face

‘Cause I like mine MY way!
I look just fine, I say!
And if you disagree
That’s just ‘cause you’re not ME!
I like mine My way!
I like my looks like this!
Now show me it’s okay—
Give me a big fat kiss!

I like my shirt this small
Who cares what people think!
I’d like it if ALL
my silly tee-shirts shrink, shrink, shrink!

I like my jeans with holes
The breeze makes my knees smile
And I like open toes!
It’s my new sneaker style!

I don’t want a tattoo
or earring in my nose
All I want to do
Is pick out my own clothes!

You shouldn’t shake your head,
You shouldn’t laugh at me—
To dress myself I thought you said
was MY responsibility!

Someday when it’s a fad,
You’ll brag to all your friends,
“Well, MY girl used todress like that
when it still wasn’t IN!
Yes she ‘expressed’ herself like that
when she was only ten!”

10) MY NOSE

It doesn’t breath;
It doesn’t smell;
It doesn’t feel
So very well.

I am discouraged
With my nose—
the only thing it
Does is blows

11) WIGGLE

A Funny thing happened on my way to bein’ 4
My friend and I was dosey-doein’ on the barn floor
When we heard the man tell us to ‘Allemande Right’
We didn’t know directions but we ran with all our might
Lydia ran one way and I ran the other
When we realized, we laughed and ran back together
Before I knew what happened we had SMACK! bumped heads
And my two front baby teeth was hangin by the threads
On that barn dance day that my teeth got bashed
(I knew) there’s better ways to lose a tooth than gettin’ in a crash!
refrain:
Just Wiggle, Wiggle, wiggle’ til the tooth gets loose
yeah, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle all day
(Some say) Tie a string around it like a little bitty noose
But I’d rather wiggle wiggle yeah wiggle it away!

Now a funny thing happened on my way to bein’ 5,
My friend and I was swimming, I was learnin’ how to dive
He taught me how to hold my arms and bend my knees
He taught me how to close my eyes and count to three
So I closed my eyes and I pointed my head
And before I knew what happened I had hit like lead
First my mouth hit the divin’ board, where I left behind
My bottom tooth before I hit the water just fine
On that swimmin’ pool day that my tooth got bashed
(I knew) there’s easier ways to loose a tooth than divin’ down crash!

refrain

Well, a funny thing happened on my way to bein’ 6,
My friend and I was tired a’ playin’ pick up sticks
So we pushed my bed aside and we rolled out the mats
We did cartwheels and backflips and acrobats
I only wanted to be good at somersaults
I told my Mom my bloody mouth was not my fault
But before I knew what happened I fell on my face,
doin’ a too big trick in a too small space
On that acrobat day that my teeth got bashed
I knew there’s better ways to loose a tooth than comin’ down crash!

refrain
WIGGLE!

12) I’M NOBODY’S BODY BUT MINE

They say I got my Daddy’s eyes.
I don’t know what they mean—
his eyes are right there on his face,
his nose is in-between.

They say I got my Mommy’s chin.
I think they’re wrong again—
her chin is there where it’s always been,
in fact, there might be two of them!

They say I got my Grammy’s nose.
now that one’s really dumb!
Her nose is very big and large
and mine’s small as they come.

They say I got my Grandpa’s skin.
What do they think I am?
I’m only wrinkled up like him
when I go for a too long bathtub swim.

My Daddy’s eyes, my Mommy’s chin
My grandma’s nose, my grandpa’s skin,
Where do they end and I begin?
Can’t anybody see?
I’m nobody else but me!
From the front and from behind,
I’m nobody’s body but mine.

13) SHY (3 voices)

My eyes are shy, (that’s why she wears sunglasses)
My ears are shy, (they like it when her hair grows)
My mouth is shy, (it only opens when it hasta’)
But there’s nothin’ I can do about my nose.

My head is shy, (that’s why she puts a hat over it)
My hands are shy (that’s why she wears a pair a’ gloves)
My heart is shy (and though she sometimes try to cover it
I tell her “Open up for love”.)

LOVE, Meet it halfway,
Don’t hide inside on a sunny day
Be BRAVE, stick your neck out and then
Open up your heart and let the sun shine in!

My mom is shy (that’s why she wears her clothes baggy)
My dad is shy (he hides his bald spot with a hat)
My dog’s NOT shy, that’s why his tail’s so waggy, and
I’d like to learn to be like that!

‘Cause if you were not shy, like your doggy you’d be happy,
I would “WOOF!” ‘til they say, “Oh, his bark’s worse than his bite”
I would run around like crazy, then I’d jump up in your lappy
And I’d lick yer face to say goodnight! (SLURP!)
Yes, I’d lick yer face to say goodnight!

LOVE— meet it halfway
Don’t hide inside on a sunny day
Be BRAVE—stick your neck out and then
Open up your heart and let the sun shine in!

14) C is for “Celebration” Poems

15) PARTY PIÑATA

It’s a party piñata,
Got alot of goodies inside
Bop the piñata
and bust the bottom open wide
Everybody scoop it up quick as they could
Decide to divide it just like they should
But who gets to pick when there’s only one
peppermint stick?!

16) BIRTHDAY MATH

My Dad is 40 and a half
And I’m 9 and three quarters.
Good thing I’m here to keep good track of time
‘cause grownups, strange but true, forget
How old they are on birthdays—
They think they’re not a day past 39.

I’ve got a baby brother who is 20 weeks today.
In four more weeks they’ll call him 6 months old.
I ask my Mom how come we don’t just
call him half a year—
“Go Play”, she says,
“There’s diapers here to fold!”

A funny thing that happens when
Adults get that much older
They can’t stand all those candles on their cakes.
Is it because they’re out of breath
or candles get expensive?
It seems no more than ten’s all they can take

I figured out a way to show
the age of my great uncle
Each decade has a candle that is blue.
A red one stands for one year so
How many blue and red ones
Does it take to make my uncle 92?

My Grandpa taught my Grandma a
good way to count HIS candles
Employing the 2 bit binary system
She smiled and said, “next year I’ll study
higher mathematics,
For now just blow out one,” and then she kissed him!

17) LIFE—I LIKE IT LOUD

Life—-I like it loud
Life’s a laugh-riot
Life—-makes me wanna shout
So don’t tell me “Be Quiet!”

It takes some girls and boys
To make a Rowdy crowd
How much noise annoys ya?
How loud is allowed?
When I rush out and shout it
Don’t say, “Hush your mouth!”
Happiness can happen, yes,
If we let it out!

Life—-I like it loud
Life’s a big riot
Life—makes you wanna shout
So please don’t say “Be Quiet!”

18) BROODING BALLOONS

Balloons, once buoyant
and bouncing off ceilings,
Held all together
by loose curling ribbons,
Now are off brooding,
Sulking in corners
Each one off hiding in
Some separate room.
Hanging their heads
at halfmast, they are mourning
Yesterday’s party,
Pacing the floor.

“Where are the noises,
Where is the joy in
The small children’s voices?”
Ask the balloons,
Silently wagging
Their heads to and fro,
As if to stop time with
Their emphatic “No”.
Gone now the planning,
The wild preparation
Gone all the high-pitched
Anticipation.

Vanished like ice cream on
Soaked paper plates
Vanished like wishes
On young birthday cakes.
A day to remember,
But ne’er to repeat
As precious as Childhood,
As short and as sweet.
A moment that’s destined
To vanish as soon
As the magic in this
Slowly
Sinking
Balloon.

19) NOW WHAT? (fun for several voices)

I hate this feeling, “Now what?”
It makes me have a cow
The only thing I hate as much as “NOW what?” is
“What NOW?”

I don’t like “I don’t GET it!”
That feeling’s for the birds.
I don’t much like “I’m SORRY”
Cuz its hard to say those words.
I don’t like “I’m not TIRED!”
when they call me sleepyhead
And I REALLY don’t like “Time for School!”
I’d rather stay in bed.

But nothing’s worse than “NOW what?”
Especially on the heels
of birthdays and vacations
and ANYthing that feels
like “WOW!” or “COOL!” or “AWESOME!”
or “Let’s do that somemore!”
or “Look Ma! I can DO it!”
or “Mine’s the highest score!”

Or anything exciting that
you wish would never stop
cuz “Now What?” means what you just DID
you’ll probly never top.
“NOW what?” means you’re nudgy
and Stir-crazy and Bored
like You ate too much sugar but
you still want MORE! MORE! MORE!

I hate this feeling, “NOW what?”
It makes me have a cow
The only thing I hate as much as “NOW what?” is
“What NOW?”

“Now What?”

20) D is for “Dialogue” Poems

21) R TOO! M NOT! (3 voices)

You’re a little warm! I’m NOT a little worm!
R Too! M Not!
R Too! M Not!. . .Did you say I’m a WORM?
Uh-uh, I said you’re WARM!
WORM WARM WARM WORM
WORDS ARE ALL WE’VE GOT!

You’re a little pale I’m NOT a little pill!
R Too! M Not!
R Too! M Not! Did you say I’m a Pill?
No! I said you were Pale!
PALE PILL PILL PALE
WORDS ARE ALL WE’VE GOT!

22) Only Me! (2 Voices)

When teacher asks, “How many?”
I say, “Me, there’s only me”
“Brothers?”
“No, not any.”
“Sisters?”
“No, sorry,
just me,” I say again
and then I watch her carefully
to see if she decides
my parents probably spoiled me
(“Hmmm?”)

Too much attention’s what they say
about an only child,
but I don’t get how getting loved
can make a kid go wild,
they say, “Poor little thing,
she’ll probably never learn to share,”
like fighting over toys
is what makes kids turn out fair.
“Poor baby,” they go on to say
“She must be very lonely”.
Don’t friends and parents count at all?
What’s wrong with being only?

Only me, only me,
Luckily it’s only me,
I’m their first and I’m their last,
the middle’s where I’ll never be,
This brother-sister rivalry
ain’t all that it’s cracked up to be
Mommy makes good company
and Daddy too, so that makes three—
Two of them devoted to
their one and only YOU KNOW WHO!
Uh-Huh, their one and only ME!
I’m advantaged ,can’t you see?
I get to hog my mom and dad.
Now how could that be very bad?
I’m sure the others would agree—
All those ‘only childs’ like me
feel real lucky, yes they do—
They get to hog their parents too.

23) 50 ODD YEARS (2 voices)

How old are you?
(Three, how old are you?)
I’m 50 odd years,
50 odd years
Is it showing?

How old is that?
It’s not that old, dear
I’m 50 odd years
and still growing.

I know how to count
to fifty-nine—
how many is
50 odd?

It isn’t too old to
do most anything
and it isn’t older
than God.

But when it comes time
to put candles, how many
about do you think
it will take?

Oh I suppose five or
so would be plenty—
That way we can still
see the cake
But if 50 odd years
is your age, then how old
will you be when your next
birthday’s coming?

That’s easy, my dear,
after 50 odd years,
I’m planning to turn
50 something!

24) R TOO! M NOT!(Continued)

You’re in a little fog!
I’m Not a little Frog!
R Too! M Not! R Too! M Not!
Did you say I’m a frog?
No! I said you’re in a FOG!
FOG FROG FROG FOG
WORDS ARE ALL WE’VE GOT!

I say, You’re looking fit!
I AM NOT lookin’ fat!
R Too! M NOT! R Too! M Not!
Did you say I’m Fat?
No! I said you’re FIT!
FIT FAT FAT FIT
WORDS ARE ALL WE’VE GOT!

25) ATLAS (2 voices)

If Atlas is holding the world on his shoulders then
what is he standing on?
I asked as a child, and now that I’m older
here’s the conclusion I’ve drawn—

One foot is planted firmly on Saturn,
the other on Pluto or Mars.
His shirt is black silk with a milky way pattern,
his belt like Orion’s has stars.

Children are known for asking hard questions
that grownups have answers for,
But if you don’t, I have one suggestion—
Become as a child and explore

the recesses of your imagination
before atrophy settles in.
The story you tell may cause such a sensation,
they’ll ask you again and again—

If Atlas is holding the world on his shoulders then
what happens when he gets tired?
If he puts it down will it fall like a boulder
and will his boss say he is fired?

If the world gets too heavy for Atlas,
he bowls it around the sun
and if it gets going alittle too fast , well
that is where thunder comes from.

Then why when he bowls does it go in a circle
instead of in a straight line?
The scientists said that “gravity works like
a leash on the planets, all nine”—

Mercury, Venus, the Earth, Mars, and Jupiter
Call it my ‘Puppydog Thesis’
Saturn, Uranus, Neptune. . . plus Pluto?
But whose the guy holding the leashes?

Not Atlas ‘cause he’s got the earth on his shoulders,
but what is he standing on?
“Ah-hah! That’s a very good question my dear!”
which tomorrow we’ll ponder upon.

26) HUMAN BEAN (3 voices)

Phil at five asked Laura Lee who then was 17
to marry him when he grew up to be a human bean.
She laughed and said, “Oh silly Phil, you ARE a human being!”
He blushed beet red and said, “Then what does bein’ human mean?”

(Well, some say...)

“A human is an ape that has evolved to walk upright
and when they’re born, they have prehensile thumbs to suck at night.
Their brains are strong, their hearts are big, and one thing I’m sure of—
There’s lots of different humans that it’s possible to love.”

“Like how I Love you!”
“I love you too ,Phil, but there’s lots of different kinds of love and. . .

There’s more to the Book of Life than just the ‘true love’ page
Relax, enjoy then someday ask a human bean your age!”
“But how old do I have to get to know what true love means?”
She said, “Well, at least as big as me, and WAY past 17!”

27) R TOO! M NOT! (Final Continuance)

I think it’s going to snow
I AM NOT Going too slow!
Is Too! M Not!
Is Too! M Not!
Don’t say I’m Going Too slow!
I said it’s going to SNOW!
SLOW SNOW SNOW SLOW
WORDS ARE ALL WE’VE GOT!

You’re looking pretty cool
I’m NOT a little mule!
R Too! M Not! R Too! M Not!
Did you say I’m a little mule?
No! I said you’re looking cool!
COOL MULE MULE COOL
WORDS ARE ALL WE’VE GOT!

28) E is for “Edible Poems

29) MISHY MASHY

Everyday my food would say
“Please come out and play!”
It put me in a sour mood
When mom said, “Don’t play with your food!”

Pushy Bashy
Mishy Mash I
Love to flood my plate
A Jelly roll
or Egg in a hole
I’d poke before I ate!

I’d order a banana split
in one a’ those red diner booths
Then turn my ice cream scoops to goop
by stirring ‘til it’s soupy smooth

Pushy Bashy
Mishy Mash I
Love to flood my plate
A jelly roll
or egg in a hole
I’d squoosh before I ate!

30) TOO MUCH CARROTS

She eats too much carrots,
That must be the key
To the secrets my mother
Somehow can see.

She won’t miss a trick
Much to my surprise
I pull lots, but NOT
The wool over her eyes.

“Your mother sees plenty”
The eye doctor said,
“Her sight’s 20-20
on the BACKS of her head!”

31) PASS THE TAMARI TO MARY

Pass the Tamari to Mary
so Mary can pass it my way
Please pass the Tamari to Mary
I really don’t have all day.
Tomorrow’s too late, couldjya hurry?
I’m HUNGRY, I’m sorry to say.
Please pass the tamari to Mary ‘cause
I’d like it sometime today!

32) VANILLA WITH JIMMIES

Give me mine with Jimmies
it’s a way too hot day.
Crank up the air-conditioner
and make this weather go away.

Find a secret swimming hole
so you can throw me in
to wash the Jimmies off my nose
and the stickies off my chin.

33) F is for “Feeling” Poems

34) NO FAIR (2 voices)

No Food, No Drink
No Kids, No Fair
‘s like you won’t take
me anywhere
No Fun, No Sweets,
Keep off the grass,
No Barefeet, Don’t
you dare trespass!

“No more Rules!”
the sign should say
and “No School
‘Cept on holidays!”

No Bedtimes or
curfews required
I’m SO mature
and I’m NOT tired!
No Principals
or parents I’m
INVINCIBLE
all of the time!!
I make the rules
and my rules say—
Instead of school
ALL HOLIDAYS!!

35) A CLOUD SLEEPS

There’s a nook between two mountains where a cloud sleeps
His toes don’t know they’re dangling in the lake
There’s a nook between two mountains where a cloud sleeps
It’S 8 a.m. and he’s still not awake.

The older clouds are all about their business,
Scattered at their jobs up in the sky.
But that lazy little cloud just couldn’t care less
As he dreams of chasing snowgeese on the fly.

See that kitten on his pillow purring?
so he pulls the satin sheet over his head.
Look! He’s puffing up! He must be stirring—
He yawns and stretches out across his bed.

Yup, he’s even opened up one eye now.
He’s muttering and squinting at the sun.
His relatives are calling, “Rise and shine now!
‘cause there’s alot of raining to be done!”

But that cloud just snuggles deeper in his blankets
‘Til you can hardly see him anymore
In his nook between two mountains you can thank him—
For the sun will shine as long as he still snores.

36) I SHOULDA STOOD IN BED

I shoulda stood in bed
I’m grouchy as can be
I got up on the wrong side but
It looked like right to me.

If I’d have stood in bed,
I’d still be sleepin’ now
But I got off instead
on the wrong foot somehow.

Stay, Stayed, Stood
Sleep, Slept, Slupt
Get it? Got it. Good
I wish that I weren’t UPt.

I shoulda stood in bed
I can’t get off the ground
I’m not lyin’ when I say I wish
I WAS still lyin’ down.

I shoulda stood in bed
I can’t reverse my frown
Unless I do a headstand
To turn it upside-down

Stay, Stayed, Stood
Sleep, Slept, Slupt
Get it? Got it. Good.
I wish that I weren’t UPt!
,
I shoulda stood in bed
I’m grouchy as can be.
I got up on the wrong side but
It looked like ‘right’ to me—

I got up on the wrong side but
It looked like ‘right’ to me!

37) DON’T BE STUPID

A friend of mine says “Don’t be Stupid!”
Twelve or thirteen times a day
Or else she says, “Don’t be an idiot!”
Her name? Well...I’d rather not say.
And when I say, “That hurts my feelings”
She simply replies, “I dont CARE!”
I wish she would read Maurice Sendak’s
Little green book called “Pierre”.
‘Cause Pierre got ate up by a lion
‘Course, he was spit out in the end
But still, it did teach him a lesson
But a lion won’t swallow my friend.
So for now I just try to ignore her
And write how I feel in this poem
Do you think it’s because her big brother
Talks to her that way at home?
When my friend says, “Don’t be stupid!”
Low self-esteem must be why.
I am trying to understand her
What else can I do, I WON’T cry ‘cause
Then she’d just say “Don’t be wimpy!”
She prides herself on being strong
But if this continues, I’m nervous
that we won’t stay friends very long.
I’m pretty sure she doesn’t mean it
It’s just a bad habit of hers
But lately when I lose my temper
I hear myself saying her words...
“Mallory, don’t be so stupid!”
Mallory, you’re such a jerk!”
I do tell myself NOT to say it...
But telling myself doesn’t work.
A friend of mine says “Don’t be stupid!”
A dozen or more times a day
I hope when we grow up, it’s something
my friend won’t remember to say.

38) MATT MADE FUN OF MY LUNCH

Matt Made Fun a’ my lunch
I can’t take it
I won’t take it
Matt gave my shoulder a punch
I can’t take it
I won’t take it
What business does a bully have bein so cruel?
I shouldn’t have to be so scared to go to pre-school
That Matt’s finally met his match
I won’t take it

Matt Picks On me because
I can’t take it
I won’t take it
I’m not sick, but I wish I was
I might fake it
I might fake it
What business does a kid have bein so cruel?
Why should I be terrified to go to pre-school?
Well, that Matt’s finally met his match
I won’t take it
I can’t take it!

39) G is for “Game” Poems

40) ABOUT BUTTONS

Every button has a door
Which opens wide to let him in
But when he rolls upon the floor
Because he’s tired of where he’s been
And we can’t find him anymore—
We use a pin.

41) I LOVE THIS GAME! (lots of voices!)

I’m lucky as a rubber duck
on a blue inner tube
I’ve got it made, I’m wearing shades
my lenses both are tinted Ruby Red
ten rhinestones shine imbedded
in the frames, I love this game!
Squeeze me, I’m a squeaky toy
...................................................
Did you know I’ve got a boyfriend,
Crazy as this Martian doll
whose eyes pop out when pressed?
with every squeeze he’s on his knees,
he pops the question, I’ll say yes
or no someday,I donno when
but all the same I love this game!
Squeeze me, I’m a Popping thing,
relief from stress, that’s what I bring
...................................................
I’m punchy as a fighting nun
with plastic boxing gloves
I only fight for what is right
and what is right is good, good love
I come out swinging in my habit
then take aim, I love this game!
Press my levers, I’m a puppet
...................................................
Put me down, now wind me up I’m
fearless as a green godzilla
trudging north and south
I make the noise of windup toys and
fiery sparks fly from my mouth
3 inches tall, I never maul or
hurt or maim, I love this game!
Wind me tight and I won’t stop
‘til I have crossed your table top
...................................................
I’m sweet as a Pez dispenser,
head shaped like a witch whose
got twelve backup candy packs
that give 200 sugar hits
yes, I could spit ‘til you get sick
oh what a shame! I love this game!
Flip my lid, I dare you, kid
you might be very glad you did!
...................................................
I’m wise as a Magic 8 ball Ask me, “yes or no?”
I’ll decide, and you abide or
I might say, ”I told you so!”
but if I churn out bad advice then
I’m to blame! I love this game!
Shake me! turn me upsidedown
‘cause I’m the brightest ball around!
...................................................
I’m hyper as a hula dancer
stuck on your dashboard
We take a trip, I swing my hips,
my plastic skirt sways back and forth,
Aloha, Hi! Don Ho is my
Hawaiian Name, I Love this Game! my
ukelele strums along,
Can you tell my favorite song’s
“Pearly Shells by the Ocean”.....
I LOVE THIS GAME!

42) THE KEY TO SPEAKING KIDDISH (2 voices)

Vinny speaks Italiano,
Pierre speaks Francais,
Maria,she speaks Espaniole like
“Gracias” and “Ole!”
Ishok he speaks Yiddish,
He’s fluent at Hebrew
And Jeffrey, he speaks Kiddish
Though he’s almost 42!

REFRAIN:
The key to speaking Kiddish is
Think young, that’s all you do
And always speak in riddles,
Speak in tongue-twisters too
And giggle from the middle
every other paragraph.
The key to speaking Kiddish is—
Remember how to laugh!

Jeff likes my Aunt Lizzie, and
He’s best friends with my folks
He teaches magic tricks to me
and tells me funny jokes
And everytime he visits us,
He wrestles me alot.
My parents say that seven year old
humor’s what he’s got!

refrain

Do you know someone who acts
Like he was born grown-up?
Like he’s never had a toy or a
Balloon he has blown up?
Who’s never eaten too much cookie
dough and then thrown up?
It’s time you teach him Kiddish
Here’s how he can bone up—

To get in shape for talkin’ Kiddish,
Do this with your lips (b-b-b-b-b-b!)
And when a street sign says to “Walk”,
instead of walking, SKIP!
And never tell kids “Act your AGE!”
and never put them down
And everyday do something crazy
And don’t boss kids around!

refrain

43) TRUTHVILLE, U.S.A.

I live inTruthville, U.S.A.
I tell the truth most every day
I know some kids who’ll always lie
They come from Fibsville. That is why.

I know a boy who’s named T.J.
He sneaks my toys home, one a day
I’d gladly share, I’d gladly give
But Fibsville’s where my toys now live

Refrain(I come from Truthville...)

I know a girl named Cindy Lou
Goes to the nurse and fakes the flu
Now when I’m sick I’m stuck at school
The nurse suspects I’m faking too!

(Chorus)
But I come from Truthville...etc

Most boys and girls from all around
like Fictionville and Storytown
Are just like you, and here’s the proof
The most they do is stretch the truth!

They’re not from Truthville U.S.A
But they are truthful, anyway!
There are some kids who’ll always lie
But they’re from Fibsville that is why!

Are you from Fibsville?
“No” you reply.
But if you’re from Fibsville,
It could be a lie!

44) BOOSE GUMPS (2 voices)

Better put on your Cat and Hoat
And your Marf and Scittens, too
Better bundle up good or else you could
Get Boose Gumps all over you!
Get outta that Pwimmin’ Sool!
Your Blips are turnin’ Lou!
Your teeth are chatterin’ and there’s a spatterin’ a’
Boose Gumps all over you!

Flagon Dries and Flutterbys and
How does your garden grow!
With Liger Tillies and Daffadillies and
Metty Praids all in a row!

Measles, Mumps, and Picken Chox
And Creepy I-oisen Pivy
Hickley Preat, Bosquito Mites
itchy Gitch Jumpin’ Jivey!

45) H is for “Hummable” Poems

46) I AM A LITTLE POEM

I am a little poem
but I feel like a song
That’s why when you say me,
I start to hum along
I just can’t help myself
I start to rise and fall
I feel a little drama
hear echoes in the hall

I love these silent echoes
bouncing off the wall
I hear Be-Bop and Opera,
I hear my muse call

I’m a loose lyric looking
for a lost melody
if I stick to my tunes,
a tune might stick to me!!

Chorus:
Oh, I might be a poem
but I could be a song someday
You’ll see, I’ll show ‘em
When I grow up, I’m gonna be a song

I am a thought that’s searching
afloat an ocean blue
I’m poetry in motion
I’m babbling straight for you

I’m five percent love potion
so one sip of my song
will cause such a commotion
you’ve got to sing along!

chorus

47) TELL ME A SONG (2 voices)

Sing Me a Story
Tell me a Song
Make it be short or
Make it be long

Just the right Melody
Just the right words
Juicy as worms are
to new baby birds

(Where) do they come from
and where do they go?
Does the Story Stork bring them
or it is a Crow?

As soon as you get one
wouldjya’ pass it along?
Sing me a Story, please
Tell me a Song

48) HAPPINESS

by A.A.Milne

John had
Great Big
Waterproof
Boots on;
John had a
Great Big
Waterproof
Hat;
John had a
Great Big
Waterproof
Mackintosh—
And that
(Said John)
Is
That.

(Becca’s poetic license, “The end.”)