Poetry for Children 5903-23
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Poetry Break 11

A poem with a refrain or chorus (and indicate refrain).

If You Ever Meet a Whale
anonymous
 
If you ever, ever,  ever, ever,   (refrain)
 
ever meet a whale,
 
You must never,never,never,    (refrain)
never, never
 
grab him by his  tail.
 
If you ever, ever, ever, ever    (refrain)
 
grab him by his tail--
 
You will never, never,   (refrain)
never, never
 
meet another whale.
 
 
Hopkins, Lee Bennett. More Surprises. New York: Harper & Row. 1987

Introduction
 
  Kids love to imagine things and this poem is a great way to talk about your imagination.
 
Extension
 
Talk to the children about what a chorus and refrain are.  Color or highlight the words in the refrain so the children will know that  those are the words they are to speak. Ask them what would happen if they pulled a whales tail? Allow children in the upper grades 3-5th  to follow the pattern of the poem using the refrains and make up more verses, such as: If you ever ,ever...look him in the eyes
you will never, never ... have to worry about telling lies.
Or keeping the refrain you can change the whale to another animal,bird or reptile.

Poetry Break 12