a poem by jack prelutsky

do you know who jack prelutsky is?

why not? honestly. when you had to recite a poem from memory in elementary school, did you always choose shel silverstein? did your mom make you memorize something from rudyard kipling?

well, i'm sorry. my brothers and i became OBSESSED with mr prelutsky. he's terrific. absolutely magical and easy to memorize when you're little because the language is so in tune with kids' minds. also, the poems are fun.

so it's national poetry month. and i thought you'd like some stanzas from jack prelutsky's good sports: rhymes about running, jumping, throwing, and more. enjoy!

I rise in the air
Like a silver balloon.
I'm light as a zephyr
En route to the moon.

I whirl and I twirl,
Every move is precise—
I'm out of this world
When I'm skating on ice.

*

I'm waiting here in center field,
And getting really bored.
For no one hits a thing to me—
I feel a bit ignored.

Then suddenly a high fly ball
Comes heading straight my way.
I barely catch it in my glove...
Once more I've saved the day.

*

We're in the blocks
And hear the gun.
We get out fast
And run run run.

Seconds later
We're all done
And out of breath...
Who won? Who won?

[special thanks to the borzoi reader the poem-a-day subscription from alfred a knopff publishing]