While Strolling Down the Beach Today
From the book My Hippo Has the Hiccups
While strolling down the beach today
I came upon a lamp.
It was dusty, it was dirty,
it was dingy, it was damp.
It appeared that all it needed
to restore it was a scrub,
so I dug it from the salty sand
and gave a little rub.
In a moment it was glistening.
Then, right before my eyes
there appeared a purple genie
of incalculable size.
He was massive and magnificent
and glorious and grand,
and he bowed and said dramatically,
“Your wish is my command.”
It was then I did the stupid thing
I now regret I did,
for I know I’ll never be again
an ordinary kid.
I considered just a moment,
then I looked him in the eye
and I asked that giant genie,
“Would you please make me a pie?”
— Kenn Nesbitt
Copyright © 2009. All Rights Reserved.
Reading Level: Grade 6
Topics: Beach Poems, Food Poems, Imaginary Poems, Wishes
Poetic Techniques: Alliteration, Dialogue, Imagery, Irony, Narrative Poems
Word Count: 141
From the book My Hippo Has the Hiccups
Use This Poem
Would you like to use this poem in your classroom? Would you like permission to reprint, record, recite or broadcast this poem, or set it to music? Please click on one of the following links for permissions and reprint rights information:
