poem_worksheet

Here is Judith Viorst's original poem again:

Fifteen, Maybe Sixteen Things to Worry About
by Judith Viorst

My pants could maybe fall down when I dive off the diving board.
My nose could maybe keep growing and never quit.
Miss Brearly could ask me to spell words like stomach and special.
(Stumick and speshul?)
I could play tag all day and always be "it."

Jay Spievack, who's fourteen feet tall, could want to fight me.
My mom and my dad--like Ted's--could want a divorce.
Miss Brearly could ask me a question about Afghanistan.
(Who's Afghanistan?)
Somebody maybe could make me ride a horse.

My mother could maybe decide that I needed more liver.
My dad could decide that I needed less TV.
Miss Brearly could say that I have to write script and stop printing.
(I'm better at printing.)
Chris could decide to stop being friends with me.

The world could maybe come to an end on next Tuesday.
The ceiling could maybe come crashing on my head.
I maybe could run out of things for me to worry about.
And then I'd have to do my homework instead.

Now it's your turn!
With your partner, think of as many things as you can that you wouldn't want to happen to you. You can make it rhyme, like Judith Viorst's, if you want, or you can just list them. Be creative and funny and have a good time!

(Your teacher may want you to print out this worksheet or just write your poem on your own paper - be sure to ask for directions!)

Title: _____________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

I maybe could run out of things for me to worry about
And then I'd have to do my homework instead!