Children’s Poetry (K-2) By: Annika Poindexter

I Won’t Hatch http://www.clker.com/clipart-white-egg.html Oh I am a chicken who lives in an egg, But I will not hatch, I will not hatch. The hens they all cackle, the roosters all beg, But I will not hatch, I will not hatch. For I hear all the talk of pollution and war As the people all shout and the airplanes roar, So I’m staying in here where it’s safe and it’s warm, And I WILL NOT HATCH! By: Shel Silverstein (Where the Sidewalk Ends) http://www.clker.com/clipart-white-egg.html

Diving Board You’ve been up on that diving board Making sure that it’s nice and straight. You’ve made sure that it’s not too slick. You’ve made sure it can stand the weight. You’ve made sure that the spring is tight. You’ve made sure that the cloth won’t slip. You’ve made sure that it bounces right, And that your toes can get a grip— And you’ve been up there since half past five Doin’ everything . . . but DIVE. By: Shel Silverstein (Falling Up) http://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photos-woman-to-dive-backwards-off-diving-board-low-angle-view-against-clear-blue-sky-image30842343

Flag One star is for Alaska . . . One star is for Nebraska . . . One star is for North Dakota . . . One star is for Minnesota . . . There are lots of other stars, But I forgot which ones they are. By: Shel Silverstein (Where the Sidewalk Ends) http://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-flag-usa-against-blue-sky-image44603450

“I cannot go to school today” Said little Peggy Ann McKay “I cannot go to school today” Said little Peggy Ann McKay. “I have the measles and the mumps, A gash, a rash and purple bumps. My mouth is wet, my throat is dry. I’m going blind in my right eye. My tonsils are as big as rocks, I’ve counted sixteen chicken pox. And there’s one more – that’s seventeen, And don’t you think my face looks green? My leg is cut, my eyes are blue, It might be the instamatic flu. I cough and sneeze and gasp and choke, I’m sure that my left leg is broke. My hip hurts when I move my chin, My belly button’s caving in. My back is wrenched, my ankle’s sprained, My appendix pains each time it rains. My toes are cold, my toes are numb, I have a sliver in my thumb. My neck is stiff, my voice is weak, I hardly whisper when I speak. My tongue is filling up my mouth, I think my hair is falling out. My elbow’s bent, my spine ain’t straight, My temperature is one-o-eight. My brain is shrunk, I cannot hear, There’s a hole inside my ear. I have a hangnail, and my heart is … What? What’s that? What’s that you say? You say today is ………….. Saturday? G’bye, I’m going out to play!” By: Shel Silverstein (Where the Sidewalk Ends) Sick http://cliparts.co/clipart/3233 702

In Search of Cinderella From dusk to dawn, From town to town, Without a single clue, I seek the tender, slender foot To fit this crystal shoe. From dusk to dawn, I try it on Each damsel that I meet. And I still love her so, but oh, I've started hating feet. By: Shel Silverstein (A Light in the Attic) http://www.clipartpanda.com/clipart_images/mystery-pictures-clip-art-8896217

You Oughta Meet Danitra Brown the most splendiferous girl in town. I oughta know, 'cause she's my friend.   She's not afraid to take a dare, if something's hard, she doesn't care. She'll try her best, no matter what. She doesn't mind what people say. She always does things her own way. Her spirit's old, my mom once said. I only know I like her best  'cause she sticks out from all the rest.  She's only she--Danitra Brown.   By: Nikki Grimes (Meet Danitra Brown) http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/books/Meet-Danitra-Brown

Tap Shoes http://gallery4share.com/t/tap-shoes-silhouette.html When music starts playing Marc hops to his feet. His soles are slaphappy His heels stomp the beat His heart starts a-thumping His hot blood is pumping His steel toes are drumming— Tell Broadway he’s coming! Make way for the new Tap Dance King. By: Nikki Grimes (Shoe Magic) http://gallery4share.com/t/tap-shoes-silhouette.html

Rope Rhyme http://www.clipartbest.com/clipart-4TbK6k5Ec Get set, ready now, jump right in Bounce and kick and giggle and spin Listen to the rope when it hits the ground Listen to that clappedy-slappedy sound Jump right up when it tells you to Come back down, whatever you do Count to a hundred, count by ten Start to count all over again That’s what jumping is all about Get set, ready now, jump right out! By: Eloise Greenfield (Honey, I Love: And Other Love Poems) http://www.clipartbest.com/clipart-4TbK6k5Ec

Things http://www.clipartguide.com/_pages/0511-1107-2816-5549.html Went to the corner Walked in the store Bought me some candy Ain’t got it no more Ain’t got it no more Went to the beach Played on the shore Built me a sand house Ain’t got it no more Ain’t got it no more Went to the kitchen Lay down on the floor Made me a poem Still got it Still got it By: Eloise Greenfield (Honey, I Love: And Other Love Poems) http://www.clipartguide.com/_pages/0511-1107-2816-5549.html

Riding on the Train I see fences and fields barns and bridges stations and stores trees other trains horses and hills water tanks towers streams old cars old men roofs raindrops crawling backwards on the window By: Eloise Greenfield (Honey, I Love: And Other Love Poems) http://www.bestofneworleans.com/gambit/new-orleans-kids-activities/Content?oid=2050074

Dust of Snow The way a crow Shook down on me The dust of snow From a hemlock tree Has given my heart A change of mood And saved some part of a day I rued. Robert Frost http://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-image-snow-falling-tree-coverd-image36758106

Carpenter, Carpenter http://cliparts.co/pictures-of-a-carpenter Carpenter, carpenter, build us a house, A sweet little house for a mouse and a spouse, A mouse and a spouse and a family too, We know that you can, and we hope that you do.   Build it of brick so it’s cozy and warm, To keep us from harm in a cold winter storm. As soon as you finish, we’ll pay you with cheese, Carpenter, carpenter, build our house, please. By: Jack Prelutsky (The Frogs Wore Red Suspenders) http://cliparts.co/pictures-of-a-carpenter

Jellyfish Stew Jellyfish stew, I’m loony for you, I dearly adore you, Oh, truly I do, You’re creepy to see, Revolting to chew, You slide down inside With a hullabaloo.   You’re soggy, you’re smelly, You taste like shampoo, You bog down my belly With oodles of goo, Yet I would glue noodles And prunes to my shoe For one oozy spoonful Of jellyfish stew. By: Jack Prelutsky (The New Kid on the Block) https://www.colourbox.com/vector/beef-broth-soup-vector-5038592

The Average Hippopotamus is big from top to bottomus, It travels at a trotamus, And swims when days are hotamus.   Because it eats a lotamus, It’s practically a yachtamus, So it’s a cinch to spotamus The average hippopotamus. By: Jack Prelutsky (My Dog May Be a Genius) http://cliparts.co/clipart/8869

Kitty Caught a Caterpillar Kitty caught a snail, Kitty caught a turtle By its tiny turtle tail, Kitty caught a cricket With a sticky bit of thread, She tried to catch a bumblebee, The bee caught her instead. By: Jack Prelutsky (Ride a Purple Pelican) http://cliparts.co/clipart/695814