Recombined text of the Robert Frost poems Birches, Come In, Desert Places, Mending Wall, Nothing Gold Can Stay, On Looking Up by Chance at the Constellations, Reluctance, and Stars, and the Dr. Seuss books One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish and The Sneetches.

Back to Post


Now, the Star-Bell Sneetches had bellies with stars.
The Plain-Belly Sneetches
They left them out cold, in the world will we know, they all frowned,
If which kind is what, or the other way round?
Then up came McBean with a swish,
Kicking his way down through the air to the brim, and even above the brim.
Then he flung outward, feet first, with a very peculiar machine.
And he went. And he laughed as he drove
In his car up the beach, They never will learn. No. You can't Teach a Sneetch!
But McBean was quite wrong. I'm quite happy to say.
That the Sneetches forgot about stars and whether
They had stars
And the ground
Like girls on hands and knees that throw their hair
Before them over their heads to dry in the air, they paraded about.
And they seem not to break; though once they are the worst.
But now, how in the house. At our house we play out back.
We play a game called ring the Gack. Would you like to box.
How I like to hop all day and night. From right to left and left to right and then...
Hop, hop! I am a Yop
All I like to have him in the house.
At our house we open cans.
We have to use a spell to make them balance:
'Stay where you are until our backs are turned!'
We wear our fingers rough with handling them.
Oh, just another kind of cow? Well, we can do it. We know how.
If you wish to make a wish, you may swish for fish with my Ish wish dish.
At our house we open cans. We have to open many cans. and that is why we have a bird
By sleight of wing
To better its perch for the night,
Though it still could sing.
The last lone aster is gone;
The flowers of the light of a star;
They walked all night from near to far, from here to there,
Funny things are everywhere.
These yellow pets are called the Zeds.
They have one hair upon their heads.
Their hair grows fast.
So fast they say,
They need a haircut every day.
Who am I? My name is Ned
I do not like this bed at all.
This is not good, and I wonder
If I could put a notion in his head:
'Why do they come from? I can't say.
But I was walling in or walling out,
And to whom I was walling in or walling out,
And to whom I was walling in or walling out,
And to whom I was walling in or walling out,
And to whom I was out and in to fetch the cows-
Some boy too far from town to learn baseball,
Whose only play was what he found himself,
Summer or winter, and could play alone.
One by one And let them come near.
And that's how they treated them year after year.
Then ONE day, it seems to me
Not of woods only and the woods
And over the walls I have come by the highway home,
And lo, it is that doesn't love a wall,
That sends the frozen-ground-swell under it,
And spills the upper boulders in the sun.
But I can fix that, I'm the Fix-It-Up Chappie.
I've come here to there,
Funny things are everywhere.
These yellow pets are called the Zeds.
They have one hair upon their heads.
Their hair grows fast.
So fast they say,
They need a haircut every day.
Who am I? My name is Ish
On my hand with a big swish swish.
Then I say, "I wish for fish!"
And I get fish right on my dish.
So... If you wish to make a wish I had eleven too!
Bump! Bump! Just jump on the hump of the moon, by the top branches, climbing carefully
With the same pains you use to fill a cup
Up to the ground.
He always kept his poise
To the top
In each hand, like an old-stone savage armed.
He moves in darkness as it is ended.
The leaves are all dead on the beaches.
With their snoots in the air, they paraded about.
And they seem not to break; though once they are the worst.
But now, how in the game?
Not at all. a lot of ink, you should get a Yink, I think.
Hop, hop, hop! I am too absent-spirited to count;
The loneliness includes me unawares.
And lonely as it is we do not like my little bed.
This is no good. This is not right.
My feet stick out of hiding,
To please the yelping dogs.
The gaps I mean,
No one has a little car.
This one has a yellow hat.
From there to here,
From here to help you.
I have it in me so much nearer home
To scare myself with my Ish wish dish.
At our house we open cans.
We have to open many cans. and that is why we have a Wump with just one hump.
But we know a man called Mr. Gump.
Mr. Gump has a little car.
This one has seen them made or heard them made,
But at spring mending-time we find them there.
I let my neighbort know beyond the floats of cloud
And the Northern Lights that run like tingling nerves.
The sun and moon get crossed, but they never touch,
Nor strike out fire from each other nor crash out loud.
The planets seem to interfere in their sleep. by the load,
And they seem not to break; though once they are bowed
So low for long, they never right themselves:
You may see their trunks arching in the dark.
We will take OFF your stars so you won't look like Sneetches that have them for three dollars each!
Just pay me your money and hop right aboard!
So they clambered inside.
Then the big machine roared.
And it berked. And it jerked. And it klonked. And it jerked. And it bonked. And it bonked. And it berked. And it jerked. And it bopped them about.
But the feet question 'Whither?'
Ah, when to the withered bracken by the light of the beaches. They kept running through until the Plain nor the Star-Bellies knew
Whether this one was this one.
Or which one
Was what one was who.
Then, when every last cent of their money was spent,
The Fix-It-Up Chappie kept fixing up Sneetches.
Off again! On again! In again! Out again!
Through the machines they raced round and about again,
Changing their stars every minute or two.
They kept paying money.
They kept running through until the Plain nor the Star-Bellies knew
Whether this one was who.
Then, when every last cent of their money was spent,
The Fix-It-Up Chappie kept fixing up Sneetches.
Off again! On again! In again! Out again!
Through the machines they raced round and about again,
Changing their stars every minute or two.
They kept paying money. They kept them away.
Never let them go scraping and creeping
Out over the crusted snow, When others are sleeping.
And the Northern Lights that run like tingling nerves.
The sun and moon and sun
For the shocks and changes we need to keep us sane.
It is fun to brush and comb,
Should have a Wump with just one hump.
But we know a man called Mr. Gump.
Mr. Gump has a seven hump Wump. So...
If you never did, you should. These things are everywhere.
How countlessly they congregate O'er our tumultuous snow,
Which flows in shapes as tall as trees When wintry winds do blow!
As if with keenness for our fate, Our faltering few steps on
To white rest, and a place of rest Invisible at dawn,
And yet with neither love nor hate,
Those stars like a call to come in
To the top In each hand, like an old-stone savage armed.
He moves in darkness as it seems to me
Not of woods only and the shade of trees.
He will not have this one about. When he comes in I put him out.
This one is quiet as a mouse. Oh!
What a lot of ink, you should get a Yink, I think.
Hop, hop, hop! I am apple orchard.
My apple trees will never get across
And eat the cones under his pines, I tell him.
He only says, 'Good fences make good neighhours'.
Spring is the best Sneetches on the beaches,
Just sitting there wishing their bellies had stars upon thars!
Then they yelled at the ones who had stars at the ones who had stars
And the Northern Lights that run like tingling nerves.
The sun and moon get crossed, but they never touch,
Nor strike out fire from each other nor crash out loud.
The planets seem to interfere in their curves
But nothing ever happens, no harm is done.
We may as well go patiently on with our life,
And look elsewhere than to stars and whether They had one, or not, upon thars.
When the Star-Belly children went out to play this game?
Come down! We have to use a spell to make them balance:
'Stay where you are until our backs are turned!'
We wear our fingers rough with handling them.
Oh, just another kind of Sneetches are Sneetches.
And no kind of cow? Well, we can do it. We know how.
If you never did, you should. These things are everywhere.
How countlessly they congregate O'er our tumultuous snow,
Which flows in shapes as tall as trees When wintry winds do blow!
As if with keenness for our fate, Our faltering few steps on
To white rest, and a place of rest Invisible at dawn,
And yet with neither love nor hate,
Those stars like some snow-white Minerva's snow-white marble eyes
Without the gift of sight.
As I came to the brim, and even above the brim.
Then he flung outward, feet first, with a Ying.
My Ying can sing like anything. I sing high and my Ying sings low.
And I work with great speed. And my work is one hundred per cent guaranteed!
Then, quickly, Sylvester McMonkey McBean Put together a very sly wink.
And he laughed as he drove In his car up the beach,
They never will learn. No. You can't Teach a Sneetch!
But McBean was quite wrong. I'm quite happy to say.
That the Sneetches forgot about stars and whether
They had one, or not, upon thars.
One fish, Two fish, Red fish, Blue fish, Black fish, Blue fish, Black fish, Blue fish, Old fish, New fish.
This one has a seven hump Wump. So...
If you wish to make them balance:
'Stay where you are until our backs are turned!'
We wear our fingers rough with handling them.
Oh, just another kind of Sneetch is the best Sneetches on the beaches.
With their snoots in the air, they paraded about.
And they opened their beaks and they are the worst.
But now, how in the house. At our house we play out back.
We play a game called ring the Gack. Would you like to go better.
I'd like to give offence. Something there is that loneliness
Will be more lonely ere it be less
A blanker whiteness of benighted snow
With no expression, nothing to express.
They cannot scare me with their empty spaces
Between stars - on stars where no human race is.
I have this one so well. all he does is yell, yell, yell.
I will not go behind his father's saying,
And he laughed as he drove In his car up the beach,
They never will learn. No. You can't Teach a Sneetch!
But McBean was quite wrong. I'm quite happy to say.
That the Sneetches got really quite smart on that day.
The day they decided that Sneetches are Sneetches.
And no kind of Sneetch on the hump of the woods,
Thrush music went Almost like a call to come in
To the dark and lament. But no, I cannot hear.
Will you please come over near? Will you please look in my ear?
There must be something there, I fear.
Say look! A bird was in your ear. But he is out. So have no fear.
Again your ear can hear, my dear. My hat is old, my teeth are gold.
I have come after them and made repair
Where they have come after them and made repair
Where they have left not one was who.
Then, when every last cent of their money was spent,
The Fix-It-Up Chappie packed up. And he went.
And he said, Things are not too bad, you know. this one, I think, is called a Yink. he likes to drink.
He likes to drink. He likes to drink, and drink, and drink. the thing he likes to wink and drink pink ink. SO...
If you like to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower; But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf. So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day. Nothing gold can stay.
You'll wait a long, long way. we see them come, we see them come, we see them go.
Some are red, and some have four.
Some have two feet and some are new.
Some are sad, and some are glad, And some are blue.
Some are low. Not one of them is like another.
Don't ask us why, go ask your mother.
Say! Look at his fingers! One, two, three...
How many fingers do I like to do is hop,
From finger top to finger top.
I hop right back again. I like to give offence.
Something there is that doesn't love a wall,
That sends the frozen-ground-swell under it,
And spills the upper boulders in the air, they paraded about.
And they opened their beaks and they let this wet pet get.
Did you ever milk this kind of Sneetches are Sneetches.
And no kind of Sneetches are Sneetches.
And no kind of out-door game,
One on a day we meet to walk the line
And set the wall between us as we go.
To each the boulders that have fallen to each.
And some are very, very bad. Why are they sad and glad and bad?
I do not like my little bed. This is no good.
This is not good, and I am apple orchard.
My apple trees will never get across
And eat the cones under his pines, I tell him.
He only says, 'Good fences make good neighbours.
Nature's first green is gold, Her hardest hue to hold.
My hat is old, my teeth are gold.
I have this one was this one.
Or which one Was what one or what one or what one or that one was who.
Then, when every last cent of their money was spent,
The Fix-It-Up Chappie kept fixing up Sneetches.
Off again! On again! In again! Out again!
Through the machines they raced round and about again,
Changing their stars every minute or two.
They kept paying money. They kept them away.
Never let them go scraping and creeping
Out over the walls I have wended; I have come a long, long way. we see them go.
Some are low. And we are not quite as bad as you think.
So you don't know who's who. That is perfectly true. But come with me, friends.
Do you know what I'll do? I'll make you, again, the best Sneetches and they let out a shout, We know who is who! Now there Isn't a doubt.
The best kind of Sneetches are Sneetches.
And no kind of Sneetch is the mischief in me, and I wonder
If I could say 'Elves' to him,
But it's not elves exactly, and I'd rather He said it for himself.
I see him there Bringing a stone grasped firmly by the highway home,
And lo, it is theirs. All animals are smothered in their curves
But nothing ever happens, no harm is done.
We may as well go patiently on with our pet Zeep.
Today is gone. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one. Every day, from here to there, Funny things are everywhere. These yellow pets are called the Zeds. They have one hair upon their heads. Their hair grows fast. So fast they say, They need a haircut every day. Who am I? My name is Ish On my hand with a very peculiar machine. And he laughed as he drove In his car up the beach, ?They never will learn. No. You can?t Teach a Sneetch!? But McBean was quite wrong. I?m quite happy to say. That the Sneetches got really quite smart on that day. The day they decided that Sneetches are Sneetches without!? Then, of course, old Sylvester McMonkey McBean Put together a very peculiar machine. And he laughed as he drove In his car up the beach, ?They never will learn. No. You can?t Teach a Sneetch!? But McBean was quite wrong. I?m quite happy to say. That the Sneetches got really quite smart on that day. The day they decided that Sneetches are Sneetches without!? Then, of course, those with stars got all frightfully mad. To be wearing a star was frightfully bad. Then, of course from THEN on, as you probably guess, Things really got into a horrible mess. All the rest of that day, on those wild screaming beaches, The Fix-It-Up Chappie packed up. And he said, ?You want stars like some snow-white Minerva's snow-white marble eyes Without the gift of sight. As I came to the withered bracken by the load, And they seem not to break; though once they are bowed So low for long, they never touch, Nor strike out fire from each other nor crash out loud. The planets seem to interfere in their lairs. I am too absent-spirited to count; The loneliness includes me unawares. And lonely as it seems to me ? Not of woods only and the shade of trees. He will live at our house, he will grow and grow. Will our mother like this? We don't know. And now, Good night. It is true the longest drout will end in rain, The longest peace in China will end in strife. Still it wouldn't reward the watcher to stay awake In hopes of seeing the calm of heaven had fallen. They are dragged to the ground. So was I once myself a swinger of birches. And so I dream of going back to it and begin over. May no fate willfully misunderstand me And half grant what I wish and snatch me away Not to return. Earth?s the right place for love: I don?t know who?s who. That is perfectly true. But come with me, friends. Do you know what I?ll do? I?ll make you, again, the best Sneetches and they let this wet pet get. Did you ever fly a kite in bed? did you ever walk with ten cats on your head? Did you ever walk with ten cats on your head? Did you ever milk this kind of cow? Well, we can do it. We know how. If you have a bird I like to hold. My shoe is off, my foot is cold. I have this one about. When he comes in I put him out. This one has seen them made or heard them made, But at spring mending-time we find them there. I let my neighbort know beyond the floats of cloud And the Plain-Belly Sneetches popped out, they had stars, A stranger zipped up in the dark. We will take OFF your stars so you won?t look like Sneetches that have fallen to each. And some are loaves and some so nearly balls We have a lot of things have come after them and made repair Where they have come to call. A cow, a dog, a cat, a mouse. Oh! What a lot of fish there are. Yes. Some are high. Some are old and some so nearly balls We have the only Gack in town. Look what we found in the woods for a bird I like to hop all day and night. From right to left and right Across the lines of straighter darker trees, I like to have him in the game? Not at all. You only could play alone. One by one And let them go scraping and creeping Out over the crusted snow, When others are sleeping. And the Plain-Belly children had none upon thars. One fish, Two fish, Red fish, Blue fish, Black fish, Blue fish, Black fish, Blue fish, Old fish, New fish. This one has a little star. Say! What a bed! Oh! What a house! Oh dear, oh dear! I cannot hear. Will you please come over near? Will you please come over near? Will you please look in my ear? There must be something there, I fear. Say look! A bird was in your ear. But he is out. So have no fear. Again your ear can hear, my dear. My hat is old, my teeth are gold. And now my story is all told. We took a look. We saw him sit and try to cook But a few weeds and stubble showing last. The woods around it have it in me so much nearer home To scare myself with my own desert places. When I see him there Bringing a stone grasped firmly by the top In each hand, like an old-stone savage armed. He moves in darkness as it is ended. The leaves are all dead on the snow-crust- Such heaps of broken glass to sweep away You?d think the inner dome of heaven break On his hook he had a hook. On his particular time and personal sight. That calm seems certainly safe to last to-night. Out through the fields and the woods And over the crusted snow, When others are sleeping. And the Plain-Belly Sneetches Were moping and doping alone on the hump of the sun That had died in the game? Not at all. You only could play if your bellies had stars, all the work when the hills get high. Hello there, Ned. How do you do? Tell me, tell me Ned. I do not like this bed at all. a lot of funny things are everywhere. These yellow pets are called the Zeds. They have one hair upon their heads. Their hair grows fast. So fast they say, They need a haircut every day. Who am I? My name is Sylvester McMonkey McBean. And I?ve heard you?re unhappy. But I bet they have left not one stone on a side. It comes to little more: There where it is ended. The leaves are all dead on the beaches, Just sitting there wishing their bellies had stars, all the Star-Belly children went out and we saw some sheep. We saw some sheep take a walk in their sleep. by the light of the moon, by the top In each hand, like an old-stone savage armed. He moves in darkness as it is we do not know, go ask your mother. Say! Look at his fingers! One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten. He has eleven! Eleven! This is no good. This is no good. This is not good, and I am apple orchard. My apple trees will never get across And eat the cones under his pines, I tell him. He only says, 'Good fences make good neighbours. Nature's first green is gold, Her hardest hue to hold. My hat is old, my teeth are gold. And now my story is all told. We took a look. We saw him sit and try to cook But a Nook is a trip through my Star-Off Machine. This wondrous contraption will take OFF your stars so you won?t look like Sneetches that have them for three dollars each!? ?Just pay me your money and hop right aboard!? So they clambered inside. Then the big machine roared. And it bonked. And it berked. And it berked. And it berked. And it bonked. And it jerked. And it klonked. And it klonked. And it jerked. And it jerked. And it klonked. And it bopped them about. But the feet question 'Whither?' Ah, when to the brim, and even above the brim. Then he flung outward, feet first, with a Ying. My Ying can sing like anything. I sing high and my Ying sings low. And I get fish right on my dish. So... If you have a bird I like to do with the Plain-Belly Sneetches They left them out cold, in the park in the game? Not at all. You only could play alone. One by one he subdued his father?s trees By riding them down to day. Nothing gold can stay. You'll wait a long, long way. we see them come, we see them come, we see them go. Some are old and some are blue. Some are thin, and some have more. Where do they make good neighhours'. Spring is the mischief in me, and I know why. A mouse has cut the wire, goodbye! From near to far. I would take a car. I do not know, go ask your mother. Say! Look at his fingers! One, two, three... How many fingers do I like to hop, hop, hop? I do not like this one about. When he comes in I put him out. This one has a little star. Say! What a lot of things have come a long, long way. we see them go. Some are high. Some are fast. Some are thin, and some are blue. Some are red, and some are new. Some are low. Not one of them is like another. Don't ask us why, go ask your Pop. Brush, brush, brush, brush Comb, comb, comb, comb Blue hair is fun to brush and comb, Should have a bird I like to hold. My hat is old, my teeth are gold. I have climbed the hills of view And looked at the world, and descended; I have climbed the hills of view And looked at the world, and descended; I have climbed the hills get high. Hello there, Ned. How do you do? Tell me, tell me Ned. I do not need the wall: He is all pine and I wonder If I could put a notion in his head: 'Why do they make good neighbours? Isn't it Where there are cows? But here there are no cows. Before I built a wall I'd ask to know What I was like to go by climbing a birch tree, And climb black branches up a snow-white trunk Toward heaven, till the tree away Clear to the ground. So was I once myself a swinger of birches. And so I dream of going back to it and begin over. May no fate willfully misunderstand me And half grant what I wish to make a wish I had eleven too! Bump! Bump! Did you ever ride a Wump? We have a pet like this at home. Who is this pet? Say! He is wet. You never yet met a pet, I bet, As wet as they let this wet pet get. Did you ever fly a kite in bed? did you ever milk this kind of Sneetches are Sneetches. And no kind of Sneetch is the best on the ground, Save those that the oak is keeping To ravel them one by one he subdued his father?s trees By riding them down over and over again Until he took the stiffness out of hiding, To please the yelping dogs. The gaps I mean, No one has a yellow hat. From there to here, From here to there, Funny things are everywhere. Here are some who like to box. So every day I box a Gox. In yellow socks I box my Gox. I box my Gox. I box my Gox. I box my Gox. I box in yellow Gox box socks. It is fun to brush and comb. All girls who like to play this game? Come down! We have a pet like this bed at all. You only could play alone. One by one And let them come near. And that?s how they treated them year after year. Then ONE day, it seems while the Plain-Belly Sneetches Were moping and doping alone on the beaches, Just sitting there wishing their bellies had stars And the Northern Lights that run like tingling nerves. The sun and moon and sun For the shocks and changes we need to keep us sane. It is true the longest drout will end in strife. Still it wouldn't reward the watcher to stay awake In hopes of seeing the calm of heaven had fallen. They are dragged to the heart of man Was it ever less than a treason To go with the cobwebs Broken across it, and one eye is weeping From a twig?s having lashed across it open. I?d like to brush and comb. All girls who like to hop all day and night. From right to left and left to right and then... Hop, hop! I am apple orchard. My apple trees will never get across And eat the cones under his pines, I tell him. He only says, 'Good fences make good neighbours? Isn't it Where there are cows? But here there are cows? But here there are cows? But here there are cows? But here there are no longer in style?, said McBean. ?What you need is a trip through my Star-Off Machine. This wondrous contraption will take him home, we will call him Clark. He will live at our house, he will grow and grow. Will our mother like this? We don't know. And now, Good night. It is true the longest drout will end in rain, The longest peace in China will end in strife. Still it wouldn't reward the watcher to stay awake In hopes of seeing the calm of heaven break On his hook he had a book. On his head he had a hook. On his book was "How to Cook" We saw a Nook. On his head he had a book. On his head he had a book. On his hook he had a hook. On his hook he had a book. On his book was "How to Cook" We saw him sit and try to cook But a few weeds and stubble showing last. The woods around it have it ? it is we do not need the wall: He is wet. You never yet met a pet, I bet, As wet as they let out a shout, ?We know who is who! Now there Isn?t a doubt. The best kind of cow? Well, we can do it. We know how. If you never did, you should. These things are everywhere. These yellow pets are called the Zeds. They have one hair upon their heads. Their hair grows fast. So fast they say, They need a haircut every day. Who am I? My name is Ned I do not know, go ask your mother. Say! Look at his fingers! One, two, three... How many fingers do I see? One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten. He has eleven! Eleven! This is something new. I wish I had eleven too! Bump! Bump! Just jump on the beaches, Just sitting there wishing their bellies had stars, A stranger zipped up in the air, they would sniff and they?d snort ?We?ll have nothing to express. They cannot scare me with their empty spaces Between stars ? on stars where no human race is. I have climbed the hills of view And looked at the world, and descended; I have come to call. A cow, a dog, a cat, a mouse. I like to box. So every day I box a Gox. In yellow socks I box my Gox. I box a Gox. In yellow socks I box my Gox. I box my Gox. I box in yellow Gox box socks. It is true the longest drout will end in strife. Still it wouldn't reward the watcher to stay awake In hopes of seeing the calm of heaven break On his hook he had a book. On his book was "How to Cook" We saw some sheep. We saw a Nook. On his book was "How to Cook" We saw some sheep. We saw him sit and try to cook But a Nook can't read, so a Nook is a trip through my Star-Off Machine. This wondrous contraption will take OFF your stars so you won?t look like Sneetches that have fallen to each. And some are blue. Some are thin, and some have four. Some have two feet and some are fat. The fat one has a little star. Say! What a house! Oh dear, oh dear! I cannot hear your call. I cannot hear. Will you please look in my ear? There must be something there, I fear. Say look! A bird was in your little bed? What is new? How are things in your little bed? What is new? How are things in your ear. But he is out. So have no fear. Again your ear can hear, my dear. My hat is old, my teeth are gold. And now my story is all pine and I am apple orchard. My apple trees will never get across And eat the cones under his pines, I tell him. He only says, 'Good fences make good neighbours? Isn't it Where there are cows? But here there are cows? But here there are no cows. Before I built a wall I'd ask to know What I was out and in to fetch the cows- Some boy too far from town to learn baseball, Whose only play was what he found himself, Summer or winter, and could play if your bellies had stars, all the Star-Belly Sneetches Would brag, ?We?re the best kind of Sneetch on the beaches. That day, all the Sneetches got really quite smart on that day. The day they decided that Sneetches are Sneetches without!? Then, of course, old Sylvester McMonkey McBean. And I?ve heard you?re unhappy. But I can fix that, I?m the Fix-It-Up Chappie. I?ve come here to there, Funny things are everywhere. Here are some who like to brush and comb. All girls who like to go by climbing a birch tree, And climb black branches up a snow-white trunk Toward heaven, till the tree could bear no more, But dipped its top and set me down again. That would be good both going and coming back. One could do worse than be a swinger of birches. Something there is that loneliness Will be more lonely ere it be less ? A blanker whiteness of benighted snow With no expression, nothing to do is hop, From finger top to finger top. I hop right aboard!? So they clambered inside. Then the big machine roared. And it bopped them about. But the thing really worked! When the Star-Belly Sneetches Would brag, ?We?re the best kind of cow? Well, we can do it. We know how. If you wish to make a wish, you may swish for fish with my Ish wish dish. At our house we play out back. We play a game called ring the Gack. Would you like to box. So every day I box a Gox. In yellow socks I box my Gox. I box a Gox. In yellow socks I box in yellow Gox box socks. It is time to sleep So we will call him Clark. He will live at our house, he will grow and grow. Will our mother like this? We don't know. And now, Good night. It is time to sleep So we will call him Clark. He will live at our house, he will grow and grow. Will our mother like this? We don't know. And now, Good night. It is time to sleep So we will call him Clark. He will not go behind his father's saying, And he laughed as he drove In his car up the beach, ?They never will learn. No. You can?t Teach a Sneetch!? But McBean was quite wrong. I?m quite happy to say. That the Sneetches got really quite smart on that day. The day they decided that Sneetches are Sneetches. And no kind of Sneetches are Sneetches. And no kind of out-door game, One on a day we meet to walk the line And set the wall between us as we go. To each the boulders that have them for three dollars each!? ?Just pay me your money and hop right back again. I like to hold. My hat is old, my teeth are gold. I have a dish. I have a lot of funny things go by. Some have two feet and some are very, very bad. Why are they sad and glad and bad? I do not need the wall: He is wet. You never yet met a pet, I bet, As wet as they let out a shout, ?We know who is who! Now there Isn?t a doubt. The best kind of Sneetch on the beaches. That day, all the work when the hills get high. Hello there, Ned. How do you do? Tell me, tell me what is new? How are things in your ear. But he is out. So have no fear. Again your ear can hear, my dear. My hat is old, my teeth are gold. And now my story is all pine and I know why. A mouse has cut the wire, goodbye! From near to far, from here to there, Funny things are fun, and fun is good. Hello, hello. Are you there? Hello! I called you up to say when Truth broke in With all her matter-of-fact about the ice-storm (Now am I free to be poetical?) I should prefer to have him in the dark and lament. But no, I was walling in or walling out, And to whom I was walling in or walling out, And to whom I was going to say hello. I said Hello. Can you hear me, Joe? Oh no, I cannot hear your call. I cannot hear your call. I cannot hear. Will you please look in my ear? There must be something there, I fear. Say look! A bird was in your ear. But he is out. So have no fear. Again your ear can hear, my dear. My hat is old, my teeth are gold. I have what you need. And my prices are low. Not one of them is like another. Don't ask us why, go ask your dad. Some are old and some are fat. The fat one has a little star. Say! What a lot of things have come a long, long time for anything much To happen in heaven beyond the floats of cloud And the Northern Lights that run like tingling nerves. The sun and moon get crossed, but they never right themselves: You may see their trunks arching in the hot, hot sun. Oh me! Oh my! Oh me! oh my! What a lot of ink, you should get a Yink, I think. Hop, hop, hop! I am too absent-spirited to count; The loneliness includes me unawares. And lonely as it seems to me ? Not of woods only and the shade of trees. He will not go behind his father's saying, And he laughed as he drove In his car up the beach, ?They never will learn. No. You can?t Teach a Sneetch!? But McBean was quite wrong. I?m quite happy to say. That the Sneetches got really quite smart on that day. The day they decided that Sneetches are Sneetches. And no kind of cow? Well, we can do it. We know how. If you never did, you should. These things are everywhere. Here are some who like to run. They run for fun in the west Still lived for one song more In a field I looked into going past, And the ground Like girls on hands and knees that throw their hair Before them over their heads to dry in the dark. We will take OFF your stars so you won?t look like Sneetches that have fallen to each. And some are fat. The fat one has a little star. Say! What a house! Oh dear, oh dear! I cannot hear your call. I cannot hear your call. I cannot hear. Will you please come over near? Will you please look in my ear? There must be something there, I fear. Say look! A bird was in your ear. But he is out. So have no fear. Again your ear can hear, my dear. My hat is old, my teeth are gold. I have this one so well. all he does is yell, yell, yell. I will not go behind his father's saying, And he said, ?Things are not quite as bad as you think. So you don?t know where it?s likely to go Bump! Bump! Did you ever fly a kite in bed? did you ever walk with ten cats on your head? Did you ever ride a Wump? We have to open many cans. and that is why we have a bird I like to hop, hop, hop? I do not like this bed at all. But, because they had stars, A stranger zipped up in the game? Not at all. This is something new. I wish I had eleven too! Bump! Bump! Bump! Just jump on the snow-crust- Such heaps of broken glass to sweep away You?d think the inner dome of heaven had fallen. They are dragged to the ground. So was I once myself a swinger of birches. Something there is that doesn't love a wall, That sends the frozen-ground-swell under it, And spills the upper boulders in the strangest of cars! ?My friends?, he announced in a voice clear and clean, ?My name is Ned I do not know. Go ask your mother. Say! Look at his fingers! One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten. He has eleven! Eleven! This is no good. This is something new. I wish I had eleven too! Bump! Bump! Just jump on the beaches. That day, all the stars from their tummies quite nicely. Then, with snoots in the park in the dark. We will take OFF your stars so you won?t look like Sneetches that have fallen to each. And some are blue. Some are high. Some are fast. Some are red, and some so nearly balls We have to open many cans. and that is why we have a pet like this bed at all. This is not right. My feet stick out of bed up here! We like our Mike, and this is why: Mike does all the work when the hills get high. Hello there, Ned. How do you do? Tell me, tell me Ned. I do not know. Go ask your mother. Say! Look at his fingers! One, two, three... How many fingers do I see? One, two, three... How many fingers do I like to go better. I?d like to get away from earth awhile And then come back to it and begin over. May no fate willfully misunderstand me And half grant what I wish and snatch me away Not to return. Earth?s the right place for love: I don?t know who?s who. That is perfectly true. But come with me, friends. Do you know what I?ll do? I?ll make you, again, the best Sneetches on the beaches. That day, all the Star-Belly Sneetches Would brag, ?We?re the best Sneetches on the hump of the woods, Thrush music went ? Almost like a call to come in To the top branches, climbing carefully With the same pains you use to fill a cup Up to the ground. He always kept his poise To the dark and lament. But no, I cannot hear. Will you please look in my ear? There must be something there, I fear. Say look! A bird was in your little bed? What is new? How are things in your little bed? What is new? Please tell me Ned. I do not like my little bed. This is something new. I wish and snatch me away Not to return. Earth?s the right place for love: I don?t know who?s who. That is perfectly true. But come with me, friends. Do you know what I?ll do? I?ll make you, again, the best kind of out-door game, One on a side. It comes to little more: There where it is theirs. All animals are smothered in their sleep. by the top branches, climbing carefully With the same pains you use to fill a cup Up to the withered bracken by the highway home, And lo, it is we do not like this one so well. all he does is yell, yell, yell. I will not have this one about. When he comes in I put him out. This one is quiet as a mouse. Oh! What a lot of funny things are fun, and fun is good. Hello, hello. Are you there? Hello! I called you up to say when Truth broke in With all her matter-of-fact about the ice-storm (Now am I free to be poetical?) I should prefer to have some boy bend them down to day. Nothing gold can stay. You'll wait a long, long way. we see them come, we see them come, we see them go. Some are fast. Some are slow. Some are red, and some so nearly balls We have to use a spell to make them balance: 'Stay where you are until our backs are turned!' We wear our fingers rough with handling them. Oh, just another kind of Sneetch on the beaches. That day, all the Sneetches forgot about stars and moon and sun For the shocks and changes we need to keep us sane. It is made for three. Our Mike sits up in the world will we know?, they all frowned, ?If which kind is what, or the other way round?? Then up came McBean with a Ying. My Ying can sing like anything. I sing high and my Ying sings low. And I get fish right on past them without even talking. When the Star Belly Sneetches had frankfurter roasts Or picnics or parties or marshmallow toasts, They never invited the Plain-Belly sort!? And, whenever they met some, when they were out walking, They?d hike right on past them without even talking. When the Star-Belly Sneetches Would brag, ?We?re the best Sneetches on the ground, Save those that the oak is keeping To ravel them one by one he subdued his father?s trees By riding them down over and over again Until he took the stiffness out of them, And not one was left For him to conquer. He learned all there was To learn about not launching out too soon And so I dream of going back to be. It?s when I?m weary of considerations, And life is too much like a pathless wood Where your face burns and tickles with the Plain-Belly Sneetches Were moping and doping alone on the hump of the sun That had died in the air, they paraded about. And they seem not to break; though once they are bowed So low for long, they never touch, Nor strike out fire from each other nor crash out loud. The planets seem to interfere in their lairs. I am apple orchard. My apple trees will never get across And eat the cones under his pines, I tell him. He only says, 'Good fences make good neighbours. Nature's first green is gold, Her hardest hue to hold. Her early leaf's a flower; But only so an hour. Then leaf subsides to leaf. So Eden sank to grief, So dawn goes down to stay. Ice-storms do that. Often you must have seen them made or heard them made, But at spring mending-time we find them there. I let my neighbort know beyond the hill; And on a side. It comes to little more: There where it is theirs. All animals are smothered in their lairs. I am apple orchard. My apple trees will never get across And eat the cones under his pines, I tell him. He only says, 'Good fences make good neighbours. Nature's first green is gold, Her hardest hue to hold. My hat is old, my teeth are gold. And now my story is all told. We took a look. We saw a Nook. On his head he had a book. On his particular time and personal sight. That calm seems certainly safe to last to-night. Out through the air to the heart of man Was it ever less than a treason To go with the cobwebs Broken across it, and one eye is weeping From a twig?s having lashed across it open. I?d like to go Bump! Bump! Did you ever ride a Wump? We have to open many cans. and that is why we have a Zans. A Zans for cans is very good. Have you a Zans for cans is very good. Have you a Zans for cans is very good. Have you a Zans for cans? You should. I like to run. They run for fun in the woods And over the walls I have come a long, long way. we see them come, we see them go. Some are red, and some have four. Some have six feet and some are blue. Some are red, and some are fat. The fat one has a yellow hat. From there to here, From here to there, Funny things are everywhere. How countlessly they congregate O'er our tumultuous snow, Which flows in shapes as tall as trees When wintry winds do blow! As if with keenness for our fate, Our faltering few steps on To white rest, and a place of rest Invisible at dawn, And yet with neither love nor hate, Those stars like a Star-Belly Sneetch? My friends, you can have them on thars.? And that handy machine working very precisely Removed all the Sneetches got really quite smart on that day. The day they decided that Sneetches are Sneetches without!? Then, of course, old Sylvester McMonkey McBean Put together a very sly wink. And he likes to drink is pink. He likes to drink is ink. The ink he likes to wink, he likes to drink, and drink. the thing really worked! When the Plain-Belly sort!? And, whenever they met some, when they were out walking, They?d hike right on past them without even talking. When the Plain-Belly children had none upon thars. Those stars weren?t so big. They were really so small. You might think such a thing wouldn?t matter at all. You only could play if your bellies had stars And the dead leaves lie huddled and still, No longer blown hither and thither; The last lone aster is gone; The flowers of the sun That had died in the pillared dark Thrush music went ? Almost like a call to come in To the dark of the light of a star; They walked all night from near to far. I would never walk. I would never walk. I would never walk. I would not come in. I meant not even if asked; And I work with great speed. And my prices are low. And I work with great speed. And my work is one hundred per cent guaranteed!? Then, quickly, Sylvester McMonkey McBean. And I?ve heard you?re unhappy. But I can fix that, I?m the Fix-It-Up Chappie. I?ve come here to there, Funny things are everywhere. These yellow pets are called the Zeds. They have one hair upon their heads. Their hair grows fast. So fast they say, They need a haircut every day. Who am I? My name is Sylvester McMonkey McBean. And I?ve heard of Your troubles. I?ve heard of Your troubles. I?ve heard you?re unhappy. But I bet they have left not one stone on a day we meet to walk the line And set the wall between us as we go. To each the boulders that have them on thars.? And that handy machine working very precisely Removed all the Sneetches got really quite smart on that day. The day they decided that Sneetches are Sneetches without!? Then, of course, those with stars got all frightfully mad. To be wearing a star was frightfully bad. Then, of course from THEN on, as you probably guess, Things really got into a horrible mess. All the rest of that day, on those wild screaming beaches, The Fix-It-Up Chappie kept fixing up Sneetches. Off again! On again! In again! Out again! Through the machines they raced round and about again, Changing their stars every minute or two. They kept paying money. They kept paying money. They kept paying money. They kept running through until the Plain nor the Star-Bellies knew Whether this one was left For him to conquer. He learned all there was To learn about not launching out too soon And so I dream of going back to be. It?s when I?m weary of considerations, And life is too much like a Star-Belly Sneetch? My friends, you can have them on thars.? And that handy machine working very precisely Removed all the stars from their tummies quite nicely. Then, with snoots in the air, they paraded about. And they opened their beaks and they let this wet pet get. Did you ever milk this kind of cow? Well, we can do it. We know how. If you never did, you should. These things are everywhere. How countlessly they congregate O'er our tumultuous snow, Which flows in shapes as tall as trees When wintry winds do blow! As if with keenness for our fate, Our faltering few steps on To white rest, and a place of rest Invisible at dawn, And yet with neither love nor hate, Those stars weren?t so big. They were really so small. You might think such a thing wouldn?t matter at all. You only could play alone. One by one And let them come near. And that?s how they treated them year after year. Then ONE day, it seems to me ? Not of woods only and the woods for a bird I like to go Bump! Bump! Bump! Did you ever walk with ten cats on your head? Did you ever ride a Wump? We have to use a spell to make them balance: 'Stay where you are until our backs are turned!' We wear our fingers rough with handling them. Oh, just another kind of Sneetch is the best Sneetches and they let out a shout, ?We know who is who! Now there Isn?t a doubt. The best kind of Sneetch on the beaches.? With their snoots in the dark of the light of the beaches. And all it will cost you is ten dollars eaches.? ?Belly stars are no longer in style?, said McBean. ?What you need is a hook cook book? the moon was out for stars; I would take a car. I do not know. Go ask your Pop. Brush, brush, brush, brush Comb, comb, comb, comb Blue hair is fun to sing if you sing with a Ying. My Ying can sing like anything. I sing high and my Ying sings low. And I work with great speed. And my work is one hundred per cent guaranteed!? Then, quickly, Sylvester McMonkey McBean Put together a very peculiar machine. And he said, ?Things are not too bad, you know. this one, I think, is called a Yink. he likes having thought of it so well He says again, Good fences make good neighhours'. Spring is the best Sneetches on the ground almost covered smooth in snow, But a Nook can't read, so a Nook is a hook cook book? the moon was out for stars; I would not come in. I meant not even if asked; And I hadn't been. Snow falling and night falling fast, oh, fast In a field I looked into going past, And the ground Like girls on hands and knees that throw their hair Before them over their heads to dry in the west Still lived for one song more In a field I looked into going past, And the Plain-Belly Sneetches popped out, they had stars! They actually did. They had one, or not, upon thars. Those stars weren?t so big. They were really so small. You might think such a thing wouldn?t matter at all. You only could play alone. One by one And let them go scraping and creeping Out over the walls I have this dish to help you. I have climbed the hills get high. Hello there, Ned. How do you do? Tell me, tell me Ned. I do not like my little bed. This is not right. My feet stick out of bed up here! We like our Mike, and this is why: Mike does all the Sneetches forgot about stars and moon get crossed, but they never touch, Nor strike out fire from each other nor crash out loud. The planets seem to interfere in their lairs. I am apple orchard. My apple trees will never get across And eat the cones under his pines, I tell him. He only says, 'Good fences make good neighbours? Isn't it Where there are cows? But here there are cows? But here there are cows? But here there are cows? But here there are no longer in style?, said McBean. ?What you need is a hook cook book? the moon was out for stars; I would take a walk in their curves ? But nothing ever happens, no harm is done. We may as well go patiently on with our life, And look elsewhere than to stars and whether They had one, or not, upon thars. One fish, Two fish, Red fish, Blue fish, Old fish, New fish. This one has a yellow hat. From there to here, From here to there. funny things are everywhere. Here are some who like to play this game? Come down! We have the rabbit out of them, And not one but hung limp, not one but hung limp, not one stone on a side. It comes to little more: There where it is theirs. All animals are smothered in their curves ? But nothing ever happens, no harm is done. We may as well go patiently on with our life, And look elsewhere than to stars and whether They had stars at the start, ?We?re still the best kind of cow? Well, we can do it. We know how. If you like to have some boy bend them down to day. Nothing gold can stay. You'll wait a long, long way. we see them come, we see them go. Some are red, and some are glad, And some are blue. Some are thin, and some so nearly balls We have to open many cans. and that is why we have a Zans. A Zans for cans? You should. I like to hold. Her early leaf's a flower; But only so an hour. Then leaf subsides to leaf. So Eden sank to grief, So dawn goes down to stay. Ice-storms do that. Often you must have seen them made or heard them made, But at spring mending-time we find them there. I let my neighbort know beyond the floats of cloud And the dead leaves lie huddled and still, No longer blown hither and thither; The last lone aster is gone; The flowers of the woods, Thrush music ? hark! Now if it was dark. Too dark in the house. At our house

Back to Main Page