by Betsy Franco

If you’ve ever attempted to lick your neck clean,

I think you’ll understand what I mean,

when I say my cat’s tongue is especially long.

Go ahead.  Lick your neck.  Prove me wrong!

Copyright © 2009 Betsy Franco. From the book A Curious Collection of Cats. Tricycle Press.  Reprinted by permission of the author.

About this Poem

I worked closely with my illustrator, Michael Wertz, to create visual poems where the art and text are interwoven.  Try some visual poems yourself!

About The Author

Photo by Jim Warren

Betsy Franco is the author of over 80 books, including a number of  poetry collections.  Her first was Mathematickles!–math haiku.  Others include A Curious Collection of Cats, A Dazzling Display of Dogs, Messing Around on the Monkey Bars and Other School Poems in Two Voices, Counting Our Way to the 100th Day!, and Bees, Snails, & Peacock Tails. She also wrote a book especially for teachers of grades K-12, Conversations with a Poet.

Making math and science creative, sassy, and beautiful through poetry is one of her main goals.  She even included poetry in her novel, Metamorphosis, Junior Year.  Betsy encourages children to use her poetry as a jumping off place for their own creativity.  Their poems are always delightful and insightful!

Where to Buy this Book