Poetry for Children 5903-23
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Poetry Break 22

A poem by Hispanic or Latino/Latina poet

fearless_fernie.jpg
Available from.http://www.goldcreek.act.edu.au.Accessed July 26, 2005

Itching  the Itch, or How to Get a Soda
by Gato Soto
 
My sister said,"Scratch my back."
I took a popsicle stick and scratched slowly.
 
"Faster,"  she yelled.
I scratched even slower.
 
"Come on ! " she yelled.
The scratching came slower,
The speed of a potato bug walking on a sidewalk.
 
She pushed me away and dropped to the floor,
Scrubbing her back like a dog.
 
Then our dog , confused , lay on his back and scratched.
I lay down, too and wiggled on the ground,
All three of us barking.
 
Then mom came into the living room, hands on her hips.
"Okay. Cold sodas for your act ! "
 
 
Fearless Fernie, Hanging Out With Fernie and Me.  New 
     York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. 2002   
 
 

Introduction
I had to laugh when I read this poem. It reminds me of a typical relationship between two siblings.
 
Extension
Ask the class why does the author use a potato bug in the poem? Can you think of any other insects that might walk slowly?
Write the poem on the overhead projector, erase the verbs and have the class think of new verbs to replace them with. Now try it with nouns; see how funny you can make the poem.

A poem by an Asian American poet