In the Cafeteria

By: Jack Prelutsky

I was feeling sort of silly,
So I took a bit of bread
And directed it precisely
At my buddy Benny's head.
"Who did that?" Benny shouted,
As he shot out of his seat,
Flinging carrots at Carlotta,
Who then threw her peas at Pete.

Pete took a small tomato wedge
And hurled it at Denise,
Who responded, catapulting
Macaroni at Felice.
Felice, whose aim is perfect,
Started pelting me with beans -
I believe that I am learning
What the food chain really means.

I Wish I'd Studied Harder

By: Jack Prelutsky

I wish I'd studied harrder
For our spellink test today.
I'm sorrie that I didn't,
Now I'm feeling some dismaye.
I'd like to get a passing graid,
But don't beleeve I will -
I think I got Whyoming wrong,
And Chyna, and Brazill.

Though I don't want to make misteaks,
I made them awl the same.
It's no one else's fawlt but mine,
I have to take the blaime.
I tried to spell Cunneddykit,
But really, I just gessed...
If I had stoodied harder
Then I mite have passed this test.

You're Eating Like a Pig Again!

by: Jack Prelutsky

"You're eating like a pig again!"

my mother scolded me,

"If you keep eating like a pig,

a pig is what you'll be!"

I simply cannot fathom

what the fuss is all about,

and haven't I a lovely tail,

and see my splendid snout.

Something Big Has Been Here

by: Jack Prelutsky

Something big has been here,

what it was, I do not know,

for I did not see it coming,

and I did not see it go,

but I hope I never meet it,

if I do, I'm in a fix,

for it left behind its footprints,

they are size nine-fifty-six.

My Mother's Got Me Bundled Up

By: Jack Prelutsky

My mother's got me bundled up

in tons of winter clothes,

you could not recognize me

if I did not have a nose.

I'd wear much less, but she'd get mad

if I dared disobey her,

so I stay wrapped from head to toe

in layer after layer.

I am wearing extra sweaters,

I am wearing extra socks,

my galoshes are so heavy

that my ankles seem like rocks.

I am wearing scarves and earmuffs,

I am wearing itchy pants,

my legs feel like they're swarming

with a million tiny ants.

My mittens are enormous

and my coat weighs more than me,

my woolen hat and ski mask

make it difficult to see.

It's hard to move, and when I try

I waddle, then I flop,

I'm the living, breathing model

of a walking clothing shop.

My Mother Took Me Skating

By: Jack Prelutsky

My mother took me skating

and we glided on the ice,

I wasn't very good at it

and stumbled more than twice.

My mother made a figure eight,

and since it seemed like fun,

I tried a little trick myself

and made a figure one.

Way Down South

Way down South where bananas grow,

A grasshopper stepped on an elephant's toe.

The elephant said, with tears in his eyes,

"Pick on somebody your own size."

McIntosh Apple

By: Steven Kroll

McIntosh apple

Has nice rosy cheeks

Romaine lettuce

Turns green when she speaks

Cherry tomato

Has gorgeous red hair

But I'm mashed potatoes

And fall down the stairs.

Jabberwocky

By: Lewis Carroll

'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves

Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:

All mimsy were the borogoves,

And the mome raths outgrabe.

"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!

The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!

Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun

The frumious Bandersnatch!"

He took his vorpal sword in hand:

Long time the manxome foe he sought -

So rested he by the Tumtum tree,

And stood awhile in thought.

And, as in uffish thought he stood,

The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,

Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,

And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! And through and through

The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!

He left it dead, and with its head

He went galumphing back.

"And has though slain the Jabberwock?

Come to my arms, my beamish boy!

O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!"

He chortled in his joy.

'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves

Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:

All mimsy were the borogoves,

And the mome raths outgrabe.

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.

Why Run?

By: Norah Smaridge

Jane won't touch a caterpillar,

Mary's frightened of a mouse,

Sally shrieks and runs for Daddy

When a moth flies in the house.

Pam's afraid of shiny beetles,

Spiders make Melinda squirm,

Susan nearly has HYS-Ter)ICS

If you chase her with a worm!

Aren't they foolish to be frightened?

Fancy making such a fuss

Over harmless creepy-crawlies

Who are scared to death - of US.

Table Manners

By: Gelett Burgess

The Goops they lick their fingers,

And the Goops they lick their knives;

They spill their broth on the tablecloth -

Oh, they lead disgusting lives!

The Goops they talk while eating,

And loud and fast they chew;

And that is why I'm glad that I

Am not a Goop - are you?

Ten Kinds

By: Mary Mapes Dodge

Winnie Whiney, all things grieve her;

Fannie Fibber, who'd believe her?

Lotty Loozem, late to school, sire;

Albert Allplay, quite a fool, sir;

Kitty Kissem, loved by many;

George Grump, not loved by any;

Ralph Ruff - beware his fist, sir;

Tillie Tattle, like a blister;

Gus Goodactin, bright and cheery;

Sammy Selfish, sour and dreary.

Do you know them, as I've sung them?

East 'tis to choose among them.

The Joke

The joke you just told isn't funny one bit.

It's pointless and dull, wholly lacking in wit.

It's so old and stale, it's beginning to smell!

Besides, it's the one I was going to tell.

The Lost Cat

By: Shel Silverstein

We can't find the cat,

We don't know where she's at,

Oh, where did she go?

Does anyone know?

Let's ask this walking hat.

Bear in There

By: Shel Silverstein

There's a Polar Bear

In our Frigidaire -

He likes it 'cause it's cold in there.

With his seat in the meat

And his face in the fish

And his big hairy paws

In the buttery dish,

He's nibbling the noodles,

He's munching the rice,

He's slurping the soda,

He's licking the ice.

And he lets out a roar

If you open the door.

And it gives me a scare

To know he's in there -

That Polary Bear

In our Fridgitydaire.

Blame

By: Shel Silverstein

I wrote such a beautiful book for you

'Bout rainbows and sunshine

And dreams that come true.

But the goat went and ate it

(You knew that he would),

So I wrote you another one

Fast as I could.

Of course it could never be

Nearly as great

As that beautiful book

That the silly goat ate.

So if you don't like

This new book I just wrote -

Blame the goat.

Here Comes

By: Shel Silverstein

Here comes summer,

Here comes summer,

Chirping robin, budding rose.

Here comes summer,

Here comes summer,

Gentle showers, summer clothes.

Here comes summer,

Here comes summer -

Whoosh - shiver - there it goes.

Something Missing

By: Shel Silverstein

I remember I put on my socks,

I remember I put on my shoes.

I remember I put on my tie

That was painted

In beautiful purples and blues.

I remember I put on my coat,

To look perfectly grand at the dance,

Yet I feel there is something

I may have forgot -

What is it? What is it? ...

What Did?

By: Shel Silverstein

What did the carrot say to the wheat?

"'Lettuce' rest, I'm feeling 'beet.'"

What did the paper say to the pen?

"I feel quite all 'write,' my friend."

What did the teapot say to the chalk?

Nothing, you silly... teapots can't talk!