Poetry for Kids

Funny poetry for kids by children's author and former US Children's Poet Laureate, Kenn Nesbitt.

Wayne the Stegosaurus Meet the stegosaurus, Wayne. He doesn’t have the biggest brain. He’s long and heavy, wide and tall, but has a brain that’s extra small. He’s not the brightest dinosaur. He thinks that one plus one is four. He can’t remember up from down. He thinks the sky is chocolate brown. He wears... Read more »

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Today Is the Day

I'm happy to say that today is the day.

I'm super excited. I'm shouting, "Hooray!"

I woke up delighted and ready to go.

My mind is abuzz and my eyes are aglow.

There's no doubt about it. It's perfectly clear.

The time is upon us. The moment is here.

I'm eager and keen for the action to start,

and when it begins I'll be playing my part.

I'll jump in the bustle and I'll give it my all.

I'm certain that soon I'll be having a ball.

But where should I go now, and what should I do?

I'm hoping that someone will give me a clue.

I'm not sure what's happening. All I can say

is yesterday's gone, so today is the day.

--Kenn Nesbitt

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My Invisible Dragon

I have an invisible dragon.

She's such a remarkable flyer.

She soars through the sky on invisible wings

exhaling invisible fire.

My dragon is utterly silent.

She soundlessly swoops through the air.

Why, she could be flying beside you right now,

and you'd never know she was there.

And if you should reach out to pet her,

I don't think you'd notice too much.

Her body is simply too airy and light

to sense her by means of a touch.

And just as you don't see or hear her,

and just as she cannot be felt,

my dragon does not have an odor at all,

which means that she'll never be smelt.

Although you may find this outlandish,

you just have to trust me, it's true.

And, oh, by the way, did I mention I have

an invisible unicorn too?

--Kenn Nesbitt

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Back-to-School Shopping

My sleeves are too short

and my jeans are too tight.

My shirt is so small

that it doesn't fit right.

My hat is too snug

and my socks all have holes.

My shoes are worn out

on the sides and the soles.

My mom says it's time

to go shopping for more.

She wants me to get

some new clothes at the store.

She begs and cajoles,

but I simply say, "No.

I want to stay home.

I would rather not go."

While new ones may fit

in the sleeves and the toes,

the old ones I have

are my favorite clothes.

--Kenn Nesbitt

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I Didn't Go Camping

I didn't go camping.

I didn't go hiking.

I didn't go fishing.

I didn't go biking.

I didn't go play

on the slides at the park.

I didn't watch shooting stars

way after dark.

I didn't play baseball

or soccer outside.

I didn't go on an

amusement park ride.

I didn't throw Frisbees.

I didn't fly kites,

or have any travels,

or see any sights.

I didn't watch movies

with blockbuster crowds,

or lay on the front lawn

and look at the clouds.

I didn't go swimming

at pools or beaches,

or visit an orchard

and pick a few peaches.

I didn't become

a guitarist or drummer,

but, boy, I played plenty

of Minecraft this summer.

--Kenn Nesbitt

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My Mother Said to Do My Chores

My mother said to do my chores,

to dust the shelves and mop the floors,

and wipe the walls and wind the clocks,

and scoop the kitty's litter box,

and walk the dog and feed the fishes,

and wash and and dry the dirty dishes,

and clean my room and take a bath,

and read a book and do my math,

and pick up all my Lego blocks,

and put away my shoes and socks,

and hang my shirts and fold my pants,

and water all the potted plants,

and organize my toys and games,

and straighten up the picture frames,

and polish all the silverware,

and brush my teeth and comb my hair,

and rake the leaves and mow the lawn,

and on and on and on and on.

She said I'll get to have some fun

as soon as all my chores are done.

With all the chores I have to do

until my mother says I'm through,

like study for an hour or two

the names of places in Peru,

and peel potatoes and stir the stew,

and fix a vase with crazy glue,

and practice tuba till I'm blue,

and scrub the tub and toilet too,

and sweep the chimney and the flue,

and wash the dog with pet shampoo,

and pick up piles of puppy poo...

It looks like I'll be ninety three

before I get to watch TV.

--Kenn Nesbitt

"The Teachers Jumped Out of the Windows," a funny school poem for kids by Children's Poet Laureate Kenn Nesbitt.

"Halloween is Nearly Here," a funny holiday poem by Kenn Nesbitt from the book "The Armpit of Doom."

"Xbox, Xbox," a funny poem for kids by Children's Poet Laureate Kenn Nesbitt.