The Scorpion

By Roald Dahl

You ought to thank your lucky star

That here in England where you are

You'll never find (or so it's said)

A scorpion inside your bed

The scorpion's name is Stingaling,

A most repulsive ugly thing,

And I would never recommend

That you should treat him as a friend.

His scaly skin is black as black,

Observe his scowling murderous face,

His wicked eyes, his lack of grace,

Note well his long and crinkly tail.

And when it starts to swish and flail.

Oh gosh! Watch out! Jump back, I say,

And run till you're a mile away.

The moment that this tail goes swish

He has but one determined wish,

He wants to make a sudden jump

And sting you hard upon your rump

"What is the matter, darling child?

"Why do you look so tense and wild?"

"Oh mummy, underneath the sheet

"There's something moving on my feet,

"Something horrid creepy crawly thing,

"D'you think it could be Stingaling?"

"What nonsense child! You're teasing me."

"I'm not, I'm not! It's reached my knee!

"It's going... going up my thigh!

"Oh mummy, catch it quickly! Try!

"It's on... it's on my bottom now!

"It's...Ow! Ow-ow! Ow-ow! OW-OW!"

What I like about this poem:

1) For the whole family

2) Funny

3) Quick