Poetry Theater
A poem in two voices
Adapted from the poem by Kenn Nesbitt in The Tighty-Whitey Spider published by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky.
Summary: A child finds that their cat has learned how to talk and does so constantly.
Presentation Suggestions: Have the students read or perform the poem in front of the class. Have the students act out the different lines while they read them.
Props: A cat costume or cat ears for the kitten character, if available.
Delivery: The lines of the poem should be read with poetic rhythm. For tips on reciting poetry, please read this post about How to Recite a Poem Like an Expert.
Characters:
Child
Kitten
My Kitten Won’t Stop Talking
Child:
My kitten won’t stop talking.
She just prattles night and day.
She walks around repeating
nearly everything I say.
My kitten never says,
Kitten:
“Meow.”
Child:
She never even purrs.
She mimics me instead
in that annoying voice of hers.
She waits for me to speak,
and then she copies every word,
or begs me for a cracker,
or says,
Kitten:
“I’m a pretty bird.”
Child:
I’m not sure what to do, and so
I simply grin and bear it.
She’s been this way since yesterday;
that’s when she ate my parrot.
THE END!
Copyright © 2010 by Kenn Nesbitt. Adapted from the poem by Kenn Nesbitt in The Tighty-Whitey Spider published by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky.
Permission is given for individual school classes to perform this play and to make as many copies of the play as are needed for the students’ use. All other reproduction and performance is prohibited. For use of this play outside individual classes, please contact me for permission.
