Where the Sidewalk Ends

from the book "Where the Sidewalk Ends" (1974)

There is a place where the sidewalk ends

and before the street begins,

and there the grass grows soft and white,

and there the sun burns crimson bright,

and there the moon-bird rests from his flight

to cool in the peppermint wind.

Let us leave this place where the smoke blows black

and the dark street winds and bends.

Past the pits where the asphalt flowers grow

we shall walk with a walk that is measured and slow

and watch where the chalk-white arrows go

to the place where the sidewalk ends.

Yes we'll walk with a walk that is measured and slow,

and we'll go where the chalk-white arrows go,

for the children, they mark, and the children, they know,

the place where the sidewalk ends.

Whatif

from the book "A Light in the Attic" (1981)

Last night, while I lay thinking here,

some Whatifs crawled inside my ear

and pranced and partied all night long

and sang their same old Whatif song:

Whatif I'm dumb in school?

Whatif they've closed the swimming pool?

Whatif I get beat up?

Whatif there's poison in my cup?

Whatif I start to cry?

Whatif I get sick and die?

Whatif I flunk that test?

Whatif green hair grows on my chest?

Whatif nobody likes me?

Whatif a bolt of lightning strikes me?

Whatif I don't grow talle?

Whatif my head starts getting smaller?

Whatif the fish won't bite?

Whatif the wind tears up my kite?

Whatif they start a war?

Whatif my parents get divorced?

Whatif the bus is late?

Whatif my teeth don't grow in straight?

Whatif I tear my pants?

Whatif I never learn to dance?

Everything seems well, and then

the nighttime Whatifs strike again!

Tryin' On Clothes

I tried on the farmer's hat,                                                 

Didn't fit...

A little too small -- just a bit

Too floppy.

Couldn't get used to it,

Took it off. tryin' on clothes

I tried on the dancer's shoes,                                       

A little too loose.

Not the kind you could use

for walkin'.

Didn't feel right in 'em,

Kicked 'em off.

I tried on the summer sun,

Felt good.

Nice and warm -- knew it would.

Tried the grass beneath bare feet,

Felt neat.

Finally, finally felt well dressed,

Nature's clothes fit me best.

Ticklish Tom

Did you hear 'bout Ticklish Tom?

He got tickled by his mom.

Wiggled and giggled and fell on the floor,

Laughed and rolled right out the door.

All the way to school and then

He got tickled by his friends.

Laughed till he fell off his stool,

Laughed and rolled right out of school

Down the stairs and finally stopped

Till he got tickled by a cop.

And all the more that he kept gigglin',

All the more folks kept ticklin'.ticklish Tom

He shrieked and screamed and rolled around,

Laughed his way right out of town.

Through the country down the road,

He got tickled by a toad.

Past the mountains across the plain,

Tickled by the falling rain,

Tickled by the soft brown grass,

Tickled by the clouds that passed.

Giggling, rolling on his back

He rolled on the railroad track.

Rumble, rumble, whistle, roar--

Tom ain't ticklish any more.

The Unicorn

from the book "Where the Sidewalk Ends" (1974)

A long time ago, when the earth was green

and there was more kinds of animals than you've ever seen,

and they run around free while the world was bein' born,

and the lovliest of all was the Unicorn.Unicorn

There was green alligators and long-neck geese.

There was humpy bumpy camels and chimpanzees.

There was catsandratsandelephants, but sure as you're born

the lovliest of all was the Unicorn.

But the Lord seen some sinnin', and it caused him pain.

He says, "Stand back, I'm gonna make it rain."

He says, "Hey Brother Noah, I'll tell ya whatcha do.

Go and build me a floatin' zoo.

And you take two alligators and a couple of geese,

two humpy bumpy camels and two chimpanzees.

Take two catsandratsandelephants, but sure as you're born,

Noah, don't you forget my Unicorn."

Now Noah was there, he answered the callin'

and he finished up the ark just as the rain was fallin'.

He marched in the animals two by two,

and he called out as they went through,

"Hey Lord, I got your two alligators and your couple of geese,

your humpy bumpy camels and your chimpanzees.

Got your catsandratsandelephants - but Lord, I'm so forlorn

'cause I just don't see no Unicorn."

Ol' Noah looked out through the drivin' rain

but the Unicorns were hidin', playin' silly games.

They were kickin' and splashin' in the misty morn,

oh them silly Unicorn.

The the goat started goatin', and the snake started snakin',

the elephant started elephantin', and the boat started shaking'.

The mouse started squeakin', and the lion started roarin',

and everyone's abourd but the Unicorn.

I mean the green alligators and the long-neck geese,

the humpy bumpy camels and the chimpanzees.

Noah cried, "Close the door 'cause the rain is pourin' -

and we just can't wait for them Unicorn."

Then the ark started movin', and it drifted with the tide,

and the Unicorns looked up from the rock and cried.

And the water come up and sort of floated them away -

that's why you've never seen a Unicorn to this day.

You'll see a lot of alligators and a whole mess of geese.

You'll see humpy bumpy camels and lots of chimpanzees.

You'll see catsandratsandelephants, but sure as you're born

you're never gonna see no Unicorn