Poem by Bobby Goosey, GROWING

 

 

Bobby Lee Goosey
 
Growing

Are you a kid?
Have you got a big toe?
Have you ever thought to watch it grow?
 
Because it is growing, you know.
Every minute of the day.
And even in the nighttime while you sleep.
 
That toe’s growing. And your ears are too.
And your nose.
And every little hair on your head.
 
They’re all growing.
Every minute of the day.
And even in the nighttime while you sleep.
 
So why not sit down some time
And watch them grow?
You can use a mirror to watch your nose. Grow.
 
You say you can’t see anything growing?
You say nothing’s changing?
You say your nose and toes and hair
Won’t grow?
 
Well, they all do grow,
But they like to go slow,
And maybe they don’t like
Being watched.
 
Tell you what to do.
Tell you how to check.
To be sure.
That everything’s growing
Like it should:
 
Before you go to bed tonight
Take out a ruler.
Measure your big toe.
Write down how many inches.
 
Now then. Do you like to suck a finger?
To help you go to sleep?
You do? Which one?
Not the thumb?
Okay. Right. The index finger.
The one that points.
 
So. Before you go to bed tonight
(And right after you measure your big toe),
Measure that index finger
(The one that points).
Your sucking finger.
 
Okay. Then all you have to do,
When you wake up in the morning,
Is:
 
Grab your big toe and measure it again.
How many inches?
If you’re growing like you should,
The toe will be a half inch longer.
 
Then take your sucking finger
Out of your mouth.
Is it wet? Good.
Measure it again.
 
The finger should be
One inch longer
Because:
Sucking fingers grow faster,
They get more water.
Irrigation.
 
If you find that your big toe
And your sucking finger
Aren’t growing that fast,
Don’t worry.
They’ll grow.
 
Maybe they don’t like being measured.
Put the ruler away. They’ll grow.
And if you want your big toe to grow faster,
Use it tonight and let your sucking finger rest.
Irrigate the toe. Suck the big toe.
 
And if none of this
Makes any sense to you,
Don’t worry about it.
You’ll grow.
No need to worry about growing,
Because:
Your growing grows all by itself.
Just grow. Slow.
And one day you’ll find yourself
All grown up!

 

 [from Bobby Goosey’s Nonsense Verse for Kids]