Mr. Ivan, The Principal Poet

Pencil Billy

Billy chewed his pencils.
He chewed them every day.
And each time his teacher caught him
She'd shout, "Billy, put that thing away!"

No matter how much correction
Billy's teacher chose to share,
The boy just kept chewing pencils
As though he didn't care.

Billy loved the wooden pencils,
His choice was Number Two's.
He loved their yellow color.
They're his favorite things to chew.

Billy didn't care he ate erasers.
Didn't care he gobbled wood.
Didn't care he was annoying.
Didn't care he wasn't good.

One day it finally happened.
We all knew it had to be.
Billy ate his final pencil,
And it was so sad to see.

First, he started with the wooden part,
And he finished it with grace.
Next, the lead he nibbled loudly.
Butthenhe started to erase!
For when he started snackin'
On the red eraser tip,
He started to just vanish.
And it started with his lip.
Next his head. Then his ears.
His neck. And then his chest.
But Billy kept a'smacking
Until he vanishedall his rest!

Now, students, there's a lesson.
Our friend Billy got his due.
The lesson's put your pencil down
When teacher tells you to.

Copyright © 2006 Ivan Kershner, reprinted with permission.

Article by Ivan Kershner
Education World®
Copyright © 2006 Education World

08/18/2006