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Judith Viorst (February 2, 1931)
If I Were In Charge of the World
If I were in charge of the world
I'd cancel oatmeal,
Monday mornings,
Allergy shots, and also Sara Steinberg.
If I were in charge of the world
There'd be brighter nights lights,
Healthier hamsters, and
Basketball baskets forty eight inches lower.
If I were in charge of the world
You wouldn't have lonely.
You wouldn't have clean.
You wouldn't have bedtimes.
Or "Don't punch your sister."
You wouldn't even have sisters.
If I were in charge of the world
A chocolate sundae with whipped cream and nuts would be a vegetable
All 007 movies would be G,
And a person who sometimes forgot to brush,
And sometimes forgot to flush,
Would still be allowed to be
In charge of the world.
Read poems about / on: chocolate, sometimes, sister, lonely, world
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I have my students read and then rewrite this poem to teach the concept of absolute monarchy in medieval history. They can do ANYTHING they want if they are king or queen.
how could you not like that poem
Thank you
PC
That poem is so good. My teacher showed us the poem in the first place and its good for 5th graders to read and write about this poem.
Wonderful poem to use with middle schoolers. The themes of power and control are quite appropriate..
Judith Viorst is a contemporary poet's answer to Dorothy Parker and Ogden Nash. She is simply delightful, witty, and has a good understanding on how too put it all together in a first-rate poem.
Raynette
how delightful.............