J. Patrick Lewis

for Eleanor Roosevelt Who showed the world the world itself Was awkward, shy and plain. A high-born leader in a long, Low decade full of pain. Poor farmers, blacks, homeless, the least Advantaged hoped to see, Magnificently unarrayed, Pure human dignity. A lady first, the great first lady Looked fear in the face, And said,There is no room for fear When courage take its place.

When I was a boy In Looziana, We wore blue jeans And a red bandanna. My folks moved up To the state of Maine, We wore duck shoes In slicker-suit rain. My folks moved down To the state of Texas, We wore brand names Like Lazy X’s. Now that we’re living It up in Vermont, We wear pretty much Whatever we want.

It was such a lovely day Till I stumbled in the way Of a van that carries vinegar to stores. When I glared up at the man— Operator of the van— He said, “Vinegar, it never rains but pours!” Now a skunk was standing by. And I thought that I would cry From the vinegar that sprayed and soaked my clothes, When the driver kindly yells, “Watch that animal. It smells!”— And the skunk ran off, a hankie to her nose.

Tom Tigercat is noted for his manners and his wit. He wouldn't think of lion, No, he doesn't cheetah bit. Tom never pretended to be something that he's not. I guess that's why we like him and why he likes ocelot.

for Gertrude Ederle As Europe woke from sleep, Young Trudy Ederle At Cap Gris Nez in France Dived into a daunting sea. Many had tried to make This superhuman swim — Thirty-five punishing miles. Chances, at best, were slim. When Fury found the waves, Far from the western shore, Her trainer shouted, "Let's turn back!" But Trudy cried, "What for?" Under an English moon, The celebration began After the fastest crossing By woman or by man.

Toad gots measles Frog gots mumps Both gots such Disgusting bumps. They so ugly It's a sin. They be jumpin' Out that skin. Pay no mind These creepy items Close my eyes I bite 'ems, bite 'ems.

I was really in a muddle looking over a mud puddle 'cause I didn't have a paddle or a twig to ride the reef. But I said, Oh, fiddle-faddle, this is just a little piddle of a second fiddle puddle so I saddled up a leaf. I set sail on the puddle, but I reached the muddy middle and I rocked the leaf a little, then I gave it all I had. And I solved the mighty riddle of the whole caboodle puddle when I hopped up on the middle of a beetle launching pad.

We used to have a single cow, We called her Mrs. Rupple. But she got struck by a lightning bolt, And now we have a couple. She's walking sort of funny now, Oh pity her poor calf. Old Mrs. Rupple gives no milk, She gives us half-and-half.

Emma Wallace, 23 Farm Hand Seymour, Iowa I came hungry into the world, and for that, look no further than my Pa. A history buff and a small-p poet, he built so many book- shelves, our house became the local lending library. At least to those few who knew a book to be a friend.

I was climbing up the sliding board When suddenly I felt A mosquito bite my bottom And it raised a big red welt. So I said to that mosquito, “I'm sure you wouldn't mind If I took a pair of tweezers And I tweezered your behind!” He shriveled up his body And he shuffled to his feet, And he said, “I'm awfully sorry But a skeeter's got to eat! Still, there are mosquito manners, And I must have just forgot 'em. And I swear I'll never never never Bite another bottom.” But a minute later Archie Hill And Buck and Theo Brown Were horsing on the monkey bars, Hanging upside down. They must have looked delicious From a skeeter's point of view 'Cause he bit 'em on the bottoms, Archie, Buck and Theo too! You could hear 'em goin' HOLY! You could hear 'em goin' WHACK! You could hear 'em cuss and holler, Goin' smack, smack, smack. A mosquito's awful sneaky, A mosquito's mighty sly, But I never never never Thought a skeeter'd tell a lie.