The Middle of the Night

By: Karla Kuskin

This is a song to be sung at night

When nothing is left of you and the light

When the cats don't bark

And the mice don't moo

And the nightmares come and nuzzle you

When there's blackness in the cupboards

And the closet and the hall

And a tipping, tapping, rapping

In the middle of the wall

When the lights have one by one gone out

All over everywhere

And a shadow by the curtains

Bumps a shadow by the chair

Then you hide beneath your pillow

With your eyes shut very tight

And you sing

"There's nothing sweeter than

The middle of the night.

I'm extremely fond of shadows

And I really must confess

That cats and bats don't scare me.

Well, they couldn't scare me less

And most of all I like the things

That slide and slip and creep."

It really is surprising

How fast you fall asleep.

Winter Clothes

By: Karla Kuskin

Under my hood I have a hat

And under that

My hair is flat.

Under my coat

My sweater's blue.

My sweater's red.

I'm wearing two.

My muffler muffles to my chin

And round my neck

And then tucks in.

My gloves were knitted

By my aunts.

I've mittens too

And pants

And pants

And boots

And shoes

With socks inside.

The boots are rubber, red and wide.

And when I walk

I must not fall

Because I can't get up at all.

Me

By: Karla Kuskin

"My nose is blue,

My teeth are green,

My face is like a soup tureen.

I look just like a lima bean.

I'm very, very lovely.

My feet are far too short

And long.

My hands are left and right

And wrong.

My voice is like the hippo's song.

I'm very, very,

Very, very,

Very, very

Lovely?"

Giraffes Don't Huff

By: Karla Kuskin

Giraffes don't huff

Or hoot or howl.

They never grump,

They never growl.

They never roar,

They never riot,

They eat green leaves

And just keep quiet.