Sick
By: Shel Silverstein
“I cannot go to school today,"
Said little Peggy Ann McKay.
“I have the measles and the mumps,
A gash, a rash and purple bumps.
My mouth is wet, my throat is dry,
I’m going blind in my right eye.
My tonsils are as big as rocks,
I’ve counted sixteen chicken pox
And there’s one more--that’s seventeen,
And don’t you think my face looks green?
My leg is cut--my eyes are blue--
It might be instamatic flu.
I cough and sneeze and gasp and choke,
I’m sure that my left leg is broke--
My hip hurts when I move my chin,
My belly button’s caving in,
My back is wrenched, my ankle’s sprained,
My ‘pendix pains each time it rains.
My nose is cold, my toes are numb.
I have a sliver in my thumb.
My neck is stiff, my voice is weak,
I hardly whisper when I speak.
My tongue is filling up my mouth,
I think my hair is falling out.
My elbow’s bent, my spine ain’t straight,
My temperature is one-o-eight.
My brain is shrunk, I cannot hear,
There is a hole inside my ear.
I have a hangnail, and my heart is--what?
What’s that? What’s that you say?
You say today is. . .Saturday?
G’bye, I’m going out to play!”
Said little Peggy Ann McKay.
“I have the measles and the mumps,
A gash, a rash and purple bumps.
My mouth is wet, my throat is dry,
I’m going blind in my right eye.
My tonsils are as big as rocks,
I’ve counted sixteen chicken pox
And there’s one more--that’s seventeen,
And don’t you think my face looks green?
My leg is cut--my eyes are blue--
It might be instamatic flu.
I cough and sneeze and gasp and choke,
I’m sure that my left leg is broke--
My hip hurts when I move my chin,
My belly button’s caving in,
My back is wrenched, my ankle’s sprained,
My ‘pendix pains each time it rains.
My nose is cold, my toes are numb.
I have a sliver in my thumb.
My neck is stiff, my voice is weak,
I hardly whisper when I speak.
My tongue is filling up my mouth,
I think my hair is falling out.
My elbow’s bent, my spine ain’t straight,
My temperature is one-o-eight.
My brain is shrunk, I cannot hear,
There is a hole inside my ear.
I have a hangnail, and my heart is--what?
What’s that? What’s that you say?
You say today is. . .Saturday?
G’bye, I’m going out to play!”
This poem is about a little girl, Peggy Ann McKay, who did not want to go to school. Peggy Ann McKay came up with every single excuse she could, she pulled out all the stops so she would not have to go to school. After giving many excuses, Peggy Ann McKay notices that it is Saturday, and she wants to go out to play. This is another poem that I heard as a young child and loved it ever since. Every once in a while you just don’t feel like getting up and going to school, like Peggy Ann McKay.
Shel Silverstein, the author of this poem, was able to make this poem very funny by using many different poetic devices. One of the poetic devices used in this poem is a hyperbole. A hyperbole is using specific words or phrases exaggerating a specific matter. Another poetic device that Silverstein uses are similes. Peggy Ann McKay uses “like” or “as” to exaggerate some things like when she said that her, “tonsils are as big as rocks.” Shel Silverstein also used Rhyme Schemes to make this poem funny and interesting.
Shel Silverstein, the author of this poem, was able to make this poem very funny by using many different poetic devices. One of the poetic devices used in this poem is a hyperbole. A hyperbole is using specific words or phrases exaggerating a specific matter. Another poetic device that Silverstein uses are similes. Peggy Ann McKay uses “like” or “as” to exaggerate some things like when she said that her, “tonsils are as big as rocks.” Shel Silverstein also used Rhyme Schemes to make this poem funny and interesting.