And skimmed the grass

  On Yerbey's lawn and almost crashed

  Right into Hansen's silo-but

  Zoomed up in time and almost hit

  The courthouse. Old Man Cooley bit

  Right through his napkin when he saw

  A kid fly through the diner door-

  And out of the window, tipping the ladder-

  139

  Where Smokey was painting, he almost had a Heart attack-he clung to a rafter.

  The kid flew on-

  Us runnin' after,

  Cheering and sweating

  And screaming, "Hooray!"

  Mayor Lowry shouted, "Hey-

  Come down here, kid. We'd like to say

  How proud of you we are today.

  Who ever thought our little

  Town would have a hero in it?

  So I'd like to proclaim this day-hey, kid!

  Will you please come down for just a minute?"

  But the flying kid did not come down.

  He treaded air above the town.

  Sort of cryin' and looking down

  At all of us here on the ground.

  Then up he flew, up into the clouds.

  Flapping and flying so far and high.

  Out past the hills and into the sky

  Until a tiny speck against the sun

  Was all we could see of him ... then he was gone.

  140

  BAND-AIDS I have a Band-Aid on my finger.

  One on my knee, and one on my nose.

  One on my heel, and two on my shoulder.

  Three on my elbow, and nine on my toes.

  Two on my wrist, and one on my ankle.

  One on my chin, and one on my thigh.

  Four on my belly, and five on my bottom.

  One on my forehead, and one on my eye.

  One on my neck, and in case I might need 'em

  I have a box full of thirty-five more.

  But oh! I do think it's sort of a pity

  I don't have a cut or a sore!

  141

  DREADFUL Someone ate the baby,

  It's rather sad to say.

  Someone ate the baby

  So she won't be out to play.

  We'll never hear her whiney cry

  Or have to feel if she is dry.

  We'll never hear her asking "Why?"

  Someone ate the baby.

  Someone ate the baby.

  It's absolutely clear

  Someone ate the baby

  'Cause the baby isn't here.

  We'll give away her toys and clothes.

  We'll never have to wipe her nose.

  Dad says, "That's the way it goes."

  Someone ate the baby.

  Someone ate the baby.

  What a frightful thing to eat!

  Someone ate the baby

  Though she wasn't very sweet.

  It was a heartless thing to do.

  The policemen haven't got a clue.

  I simply can't imagine who

  Would go and (burp) eat the baby.

  142

  SKINNY Skinny McGuinn

  was so terribly thin

  that while taking his bath

  Sunday night,

  out popped the plug

  and sloosh-swoosh

  and glug-glug

  it washed Skinny

  right down the drain

  out of sight.

  And where is our dear Skinny

  bathing tonight?

  In some underground pool

  down below?

  Or up there so high

  in that tub in the sky

  where all of the clean people go?

  143

  THE LAND OF HAPPY Have you been to The Land of Happy,

  Where everyone's happy all day,

  Where they joke and they sing

  Of the happiest things.

  And everything's jolly and gay?

  There's no one unhappy in Happy,

  There's laughter and smiles galore.

  I have been to The Land of Happy-

  What a bore!

  144

  PIRATE CAPTAIN JIM "Walk the plank," says Pirate Jim.

  "But Captain Jim, I cannot swim."

  "Then you must steer us through the gale."

  "But Captain Jim, I cannot sail."

  "Then down with the galley slaves you go."

  "But Captain Jim, I cannot row."

  "Then you must be the pirate's clerk."

  "But Captain Jim, I cannot work."

  "Then a pirate captain you must be."

  "Thank you, Jim," says Captain Me.

  145

  FISH? The little fish eats the tiny fish,

  The big fish eats the little fish-

  So only the biggest fish get fat.

  Do you know any folks like that?

  146

  IF THE WORLD WAS CRAZY If the world was crazy, you know what I'd eat?

  A big slice of soup and a whole quart of meat,

  A lemonade sandwich, and then I might try

  Some roasted ice cream or a bicycle pie,

  A nice notebook salad, an underwear roast,

  An omelet of hats and some crisp cardboard toast,

  A thick malted milk made from pencils and daisies.

  And that's what I'd eat if the world was crazy.

  If the world was crazy, you know what I'd wear?

  A chocolate suit and a tie of eclair,

  Some marshmallow earmuffs, some licorice shoes.

  And I'd read a paper of peppermint news.

  I'd call the boys "Suzy" and I'd call the girls "Harry,"

  I'd talk through my ears, and I always would carry

  A paper umbrella for when it grew hazy

  To keep in the rain, if the world was crazy.

  If the world was crazy, you know what I'd do?

  I'd walk on the ocean and swim in my shoe,

  I'd fly through the ground and I'd skip through the air,

  I'd run down the bathtub and bathe on the stair.

  When I met somebody I'd say "G'bye, Joe,"

  And when I was leaving-then I'd say "Hello."

  And the greatest of men would be silly and lazy

  So I would be king ... if the world was crazy.

  147

  STONE TELLING How do we tell if a window is open?

  Just throw a stone at it.

  Does it make a noise?

  It doesn't?

  Well, it was open.

  Now let's try another...

  CRASH!

  It wasn't!

  CHESTER

  Chester come to school and said,

  "Durn, I growed another head."

  Teacher said,"It's time you knowed

  The word is 'grew' instead of 'growed.' "

 

  148

  THE SILVER FISH While fishing in the blue lagoon

  I caught a lovely silver fish.

  And he spoke to me. "My boy," quoth he,

  "Please set me free and I'll grant your wish ...

  A kingdom of wisdom? A palace of gold?

  Or all the goodies your fancies can hold?"

  So I said, "OK," and I threw him free.

  And he swam away and he laughed at me

  Whispering my foolish wish

  Into a silent sea,

  Today I caught that fish again.

  That lovely silver prince of fishes,

  And once again he offered me-

  If I would only set him free-

  Any one of a number of wonderful wishes....

  He was delicious!

  149

  FORGOTTEN LANGUAGE Once I spoke the language of the flowers.

  Once I understood each word the caterpillar said,

  Once I smiled in secret at the gossip of the starlings,

  And shared a conversation with the housefly

  in
my bed.

  Once I heard and answered all the questions

  of the crickets.

  And joined the crying of each falling dying

  flake of snow.

  Once I spoke the language of the flowers ....

  How did it go?

  How did it go?

  150

  THE GENERALS Said General Clay to General Gore,

  "Oh must we fight this silly war?

  To kill and die is such a bore."

  "I quite agree," said General Gore.

  151

  Said General Gore to General Clay, "We could go to the beach today

  And have some ice cream on the way."

  "A grand idea," said General Clay.

  Said General Clay to General Gore,

  "We'll build sand castles on the shore."

  Said General Gore, "We'll splash and play.

  "Let's leave right now," said General Clay.

  Said General Gore to General Clay,

  "But what if the sea is closed today?

  And what if the sand's been blown away?"

  "A dreadful thought," said General Clay.

  Said General Gore to General Clay,

  "I've always feared the ocean's spray,

  And we may drown!" "It's true, we may.

  It chills my blood," said General Clay.

  Said General Clay to General Gore,

  "My bathing suit is slightly tore.

  We'd better go on with our war."

  "I quite agree," said General Gore.

  Then General Clay charged General Gore

  As bullets flew and cannons roared.

  And now, alas! there is no more

  Of General Clay or General Gore.

  152

  JUST ME, JUST ME Sweet Marie, she loves just me

  (She also loves Maurice McGhee).

  No she don't, she loves just me

  (She also loves Louise Dupree).

  No she don't, she loves just me

  (She also loves the willow tree).

  No she don't, she loves just me!

  (Poor, poor fool, why can't you see

  She can love others and still love thee.)

  STANDING

  Standing on my elbow

  With my finger in my ear,

  Biting on a dandelion.

  And humming kind of queer

  While I watched a yellow caterpillar

  Creeping up my wrist,

  I leaned on a tree

  And I said to me,

  "Why am I doing this?"

  153

  THE ONE WHO STAYED You should have heard the old men cry.

  You should have heard the biddies

  When that sad stranger raised his flute

  And piped away the kiddies.

  Katy, Tommy,Meg and Bob

  Followed, skipping gaily.

  Red-haired Ruth, my brother Rob,

  And little crippled Bailey,

  John and Nils and Cousin Claire,

  Dancin', spinnin', turnin'

  'Cross the hills to God knows where-

  They never came returnin'.

  'Cross the hills to God knows where

  The piper pranced, a leadin'

  Each child in Hamlin Town but me.

  And I stayed home unheedin'.

  My papa says that I was blest

  For if that music found me,

  I'd be witch-cast like all the rest.

  This town grows old around me.

  I cannot say I did not hear

  That sound so haunting hollow-

  I heard, I heard, I heard it clear ...

  I was afraid to follow.

  154

  MELINDA MAE Have you heard of tiny Melinda Mae,

  Who ate a monstrous whale?

  She thought she could,

  She said she would.

  So she started in right at the tail.

  155

  And everyone said, "You're much too small," But that didn't bother Melinda at all.

  She took little bites and she chewed very slow,

  Just like a good girl should ...

  156

  ...And in eighty-nine years she ate that whale Because she said she would!

  157157 158

  THE LITTLE BLUE ENGINE The little blue engine looked up at the hill.

  His light was weak, his whistle was shrill.

  He was tired and small, and the hill was tall,

  And his face blushed red as he softly said,

  "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can."

  So he started up with a chug and a strain,

  And he puffed and pulled with might and main.

  And slowly he climbed, a foot at a time.

  And his engine coughed as he whispered soft,

  "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can."

  With a squeak and a creak and a toot and a sigh.

  With an extra hope and an extra try.

  He would not stop-now he neared the top-

  And strong and proud he cried out loud,

  "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can!"

  He was almost there, when-CRASH! SMASH! BASH!

  He slid down and mashed into engine hash

  On the rocks below ... which goes to show

  If the track is tough and the hill is rough,

  THINKING you can just ain't enough!

  159

  AFRAID OF THE DARK I'm Reginald Clark, I'm afraid of the dark

  So I always insist on the light on,

  And my teddy to hug.

  And my blanket to rub.

  And my thumby to suck or to bite on.

  And three bedtime stories.

  Two trips to the toilet.

  Two prayers, and five hugs from my mommy,

  I'm Reginald Clark, I'm afraid of the dark

  So please do not close this book on me.

  160

  HUNGRY MUNGRY Hungry Mungry sat at supper.

  Took his knife and spoon and fork,

  Ate a bowl of mushroom soup, ate a slice of roasted pork,

  Ate a dozen stewed tomatoes, twenty-seven deviled eggs,

  Fifteen shrimps, nine baked potatoes.

  Thirty-two fried chicken legs,

  A shank of lamb, a boiled ham,

  Two bowls of grits, some black-eye peas,

  Four chocolate shakes, eight angel cakes,

  Nine custard pies with Muenster cheese,

  Ten pots of tea, and after he

  Had eaten all that he was able.

  He poured some broth on the tablecloth

  And ate the kitchen table.

  His parents said, "Oh Hungry Mungry, stop these silly jokes."

  Mungry opened up his mouth, and "Gulp," he ate his folks.

  And then he went and ate his house, all the bricks and wood,

  And then he ate up all the people in the neighborhood.

  Up came twenty angry policemen shouting, "Stop and cease."

  Mungry opened up his mouth and "Gulp," he ate the police.

  Soldiers came with tanks and guns.

  Said Mungry, "They can't harm me."

  He just smiled and licked his lips and ate the U.S. Army.

  161

  The President sent all his bombers-Mungry still was calm. Put his head back, gulped the planes, and gobbled up the bomb.

  He ate his town and ate the city-ate and ate and ate-

  And then he said, "I think I'll eat the whole United States."

  And so he ate Chicago first and munched the Water Tower,

  And then he chewed on Pittsburgh but he found it rather sour.

  He ate New York and Tennessee, and all of Boston town,

  Then drank the Mississippi River just to wash it down.

  And when he'd eaten every state, each puppy, boy and girl

  He wiped his mouth upon his sleeve and went to eat the world.

  He ate the Egypt pyramids and every church in Rome,

  And al
l the grass in Africa and all the ice in Nome.

  He ate each hill in green Brazil and then to make things worse

  He decided for dessert he'd eat the universe.

  He started with the moon and stars and soon as he was done

  He gulped the clouds, he sipped the wind and gobbled up the sun.

  Then sitting there in the cold dark air.

  He started to nibble his feet,

  Then his legs, then his hips

  Then his neck, then his lips

  Till he sat there just gnashin' his teeth

  'Cause nothin' was nothin' was

  Nothin' was nothin' was

  Nothin' was left to eat.

  162

  163

  MY BEARD My beard grows to my toes,

  I never wears no clothes,

  I wraps my hair

  Around my bare.

  And down the road I goes.

  164

  MERRY... No one's hangin' stockin's up.

  No one's bakin' pie.

  No one's lookin' up to see

  A new star in the sky.

  No one's talkin' brotherhood.

  No one's givin' gifts.

  And no one loves a Christmas tree

  On March the twenty-fifth.

  165 165

 

  166

  THE SEARCH I went to find the pot of gold

  That's waiting where the rainbow ends.

  I searched and searched and searched and searched

  And searched and searched, and then-

  There it was, deep in the grass.

  Under an old and twisty bough.

  It's mine, it's mine, it's mine at last....

  What do I search for now?

  167 168

  169

  170

  INDEX Acrobats, 10

  Afraid of the Dark, 159

  Alice, 112

  Bagpipe Who Didn't Say No, 132-133

  Band-Aids, 140

  Bang-Klang, 120

  Battle, 105

  Benjamin Bunnn, 104

  Bloath, 108

  Boa Constrictor, 45

  Captain Hook, 18

  Chester, 147

  Colors, 24

  Crocodile's Toothache, 66

  Dancing Pants, 126

  Dirtiest Man in the World, 96-97

  Double-Tail Dog, 123

  Drats, 72

  Dreadful, 141

  Early Bird, 30

  Edge of the World, 89

  Eighteen Flavors, 116

  Enter This Deserted House, 56

  Farmer and the Queen, 32-33

  Fish?, 145

  Flag, 24

  Flying Festoon, 80

  171

  Forgotten Language, 149 Fourth, 15

  Fred?, 135

  Garden, 61

  Generals, 150-151

  Googies Are Coming, 50

  Hat, 74

  Hector the Collector, 46-47

  Helping, 101

  Homemade Boat, 12

  Hug o' War, 19

  Hungry Mungry, 160-161