Date: April 17th, 2014

Swimming Lessons

by Neal Levin

What I Did on My Summer Vacation: Kids' Favorite Funny Summer Vacation PoemsGot my bathing suit and vest.
Got my kickboard. It’s the best.
Got my flippers on my toes.
Got my plugs for ears and nose.
Got my kiddie water wings.
Got my rubber floaty things.
Got my wetsuit on, I do.
Got my life preserver too.
Got my goggles, got my cap.
Got my underwater map.
Got my whistle if I’m stuck.
Got my lucky rubber duck.
Got my snorkel, got my mask.
Got my lifeboat. Please don’t ask.
Got a lifeguard, fit and trim.
Got no need to learn to swim.

Copyright © 2009 Neal Levin. From the book What I Did on My Summer Vacation: Kids Favorite Funny Summer Vacation Poems. Meadowbrook Press. Reprinted by permission of the author.

About this Poem

This poem is from a book all about things that happen during the summer, and swimming definitely fits that topic. Notice how the beginning of each line is the same. This is called repetition. Not only does it sound nice when you read it, but it also looks nice on the page. Most of the lines tell things the swimmer has, but the twist at the end tells something he doesn’t have (a need to learn to swim).

About the Author

Children's Author, Neal LevinNeal Levin is a freelance children’s writer and illustrator. His poems have been published in a dozen anthologies, including Rolling In the Aisles (Meadowbrook Press), Think Positive For Kids (Chicken Soup For the Soul Publishing), and Poems To Learn by Heart (Disney/Hyperion). He has also written both poetry and fiction for several national magazines ranging from Highlights For Children to The Saturday Evening Post. For his day job, Neal teaches cartooning workshops for kids in southeastern Michigan. To find out more, visit his website at: www.neallevin.com

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