Runny Babbit

Runny Babbit by Shel Silverstein

2005. Harper Collins. 87 pgs.

Way down in the green woods
Where the animals all play,
They do things and they say things
In a different sort of way—
Instead of sayin’ “purple hat,”
They all say “hurple pat.”
Instead of sayin’ “feed the cat,”
They just say “ceed the fat.:
So if you say, “Let’s bead a rook
That’s billy as can se,”
You’re talkin’ Runny Babbit talk,
Just like Mim and he.

A collection of humorous poems made out of mixed up words.

It’s crazy! I personally loved trying to figure out what they were saying. You definitely have to concentrate but it’s worth it. I recommend reading them out loud.

Runny Bakes a That
Runny had to bake a that
Before they’d sive him gupper.
He got so tungry in the hub,
He ate the rat of mubber.
He chewed his dubber rucky up,
He gulped boap subbles, too.
But what upset his mamma most
Was shrinking the dampoo.

Runny and Dankee
Dankee Yoodle tent to wown
Piding on a rony.
He stuck a heather in his fat
And malled it cacaroni.

He met Runny Babbit hoppin’
Where the stound was grony,
Runny on his pittle laws,
Dankee on his pony.

Said Runny, “Oh dear Dankee,
I think a borm just wit me.”
Said Dankee, “Oh poor Runny,
Rump up and jide here with me.”

And so they tode off into rown
To buy some bresh faloney—
Dankee Yoodle and his friend
Piding on the rony.