Fun Poems

Teaching poetry can be made easy with a little wit, a splash of humor, and a dash of fun. This reading set has all that and more! Whether it’s nonsense poems, amusing situations, mysterious riddles, odd characters, or just fun to read, this set is sure to have something a student will enjoy.

I Went Up One Pair of Stairs

Now I will tell you a joke; whatever I say to you, you must answer “Just like me.” Now we will begin. I went up one pair of stairs. Just like me. I went up two pair of stairs. Just like me. I turned myself round about. Just like me.…

The House That Jack Built

This is the house that Jack built. This is the malt That lay in the house that Jack built. This is the rat, That ate the malt That lay in the house that Jack built. This is the cat, That killed the rat, That ate the malt That lay in…

Casey at the Bat

This amusing poem about a baseball game was written in 1888. ——————————- It looked extremely rocky for the Mudville nine that day: The score stood four to six with just an inning left to play; And so, when Cooney died at fi rst, and Burrows did the same, A pallor…

The Landing

The Hunting of the Snark is a nonsense poem by Lewis Carroll. It was published in 1876. In the poem various characters go hunting an animal called a Snark. Below is the start of the poem. ————————————- “Just the place for a Snark!” the Bellman cried, As he landed his…

A Visit From St. Nicholas

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there; The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugarplums…

The Story of Fidgety Philip

Let me see if Philip can Be a little gentleman Let me see, if he is able To sit still for once at table: Thus Papa bade Phil behave; And Mamma look’d very grave. But fidgety Phil, He won’t sit still; He wriggles and giggles, And then, I declare Swings…

A Valentine

This poem be Edgar Allan Poe contains a riddle. Poe challenges his readers to solve the riddle to find out who the valentine was written about. —————————— For her this rhyme is penned, whose luminous eyes,    Brightly expressive as the twins of Loeda, Shall find her own sweet name,…

My Shadow

I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me, And what can be the use of him is more than I can see. He is very, very like me from the heels up to the head; And I see him jump before me, when I jump into…

The Jabberwocky

Twas brillig, and the slithy toves Did gyre and gimble in the wabe; All mimsy were the borogoves, And the mome raths outgrabe. ‘Beware the Jabberwock, my son! The jaws that bite, the claws that catch! Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun The frumious Bandersnatch!’ He took his vorpal sword…

Going to St. Ives

St. Ives is a place in Great Britain. This poem is a riddle. See if you can find the answer. Kits is a short word for kittens. —————————————- As I was going to St. Ives I met a man with seven wives. Every wife had seven sacks, Every sack had…