In light of Rebecca's children's poetry month, I want to share a few pieces by Ogden Nash. When I was a child, I loved his poetry. We read a lot of it in my fourth grade class, because my teacher, Sister Joan (it wasn't a Catholic school; it was just part of her particular order that she serve in a public school. She was a wonderful woman, and I still keep in touch with her) had a very teasing sense of humour, and she loved puns, rhymes and silly stories. Here are some good ones by Mr. Nash.
THE PANTHER
The panther is like a leopard,
Except it hasn't been peppered,
Should you behold a panther crouch,
Prepare to say Ouch,
Better yet, if called by a panther,
Don't anther.
THE JELLYFISH
Who wants my jellyfish?
I'm not sellyfish.
THE CENTIPEDE
I objurgate the centipede,
A bug we really do not need.
At sleepy time he beats a path
Straight to the bedroom or the bath.
You always wallop where he's not
Or, if he is, he makes a spot.
THE LAMA
The one-l lama,
He's a priest.
The two-l llama,
He's a beast.
And I will bet
A silk pajama
There isn't any
Three-l lllama.
THE FLY
The Lord in His wisdom made the fly
And then forgot to tell us why.
THE EEL
I don't mind eels
Except as meals
And the way they feels.
THE KITTEN
The trouble with a kitten is
THAT
Eventually he becomes a
CAT.
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