When I was just a wee little lad

Full of health and joy,

My father homeward came one night

And gave to me a toy.

A wonder to behold it was

With many colors bright.

The moment I laid eyes on it,

It became my heart’s delight.

It went ZIP when it moved

And BOB when it stopped

And WHIRR when it stood still.

I never knew just what it was,

And I guess I never will.

The first time that picked it up

I had a big surprise,

For right on the bottom were two big buttons

That looked like big green eyes.

I first pushed one and then the other,

Then I twisted its lid.

And when I set it down again,

This is what it did:

It went ZIP when it moved

And BOP when it stopped

And WHIRR when it stood still.

I never knew just what it was,

And I guess I never will.

It first marched left and then marched right,

Then marched under a chair.

And when I looked where it had gone,

It wasn’t even there!

I started to cry, but my daddy laughed,

For he knew that I would find

When I turned around my marvelous toy

Came chuggin’ from behind.

It went ZIP when it moved

And BOP when it stopped

And WHIRR when it stood still.

I never knew just what it was,

And I guess I never will.

Well, the years have gone by too quickly it seems.

I have my own little boy.

And yesterday I gave to him

My marvelous little toy.

His eyes nearly popped right out of his head.

He gave a squeal of glee.

Neither one of us knows just what it is,

But he loves it just like me.

It goes ZIP when it moves

And BOP when it stops

And WHIRR when it stands still.

I never knew just what it was,

And I guess I never will.

The Marvelous Toy, New York: Morrow Junior Books,1996.