If you were only one inch tall, you’d ride a worm to school.
The teardrop of a crying ant would be your swimming pool.
A crumb of cake would be a feast
And last you seven days at least,
A flea would be a frightening beast
If you were one inch tall.

If you were only one inch tall, you’d walk beneath the door,
And it would take about a month to get down to the store.
A bit of fluff would be your bed,
You’d swing upon a spider’s thread,
And wear a thimble on your head
If you were one inch tall.

You’d surf across the kitchen sink upon a stick of gum.
You couldn’t hug your mama, you’d just have to hug her thumb.
You’d run from people’s feet in fright,
To move a pen would take all night,
(This poem took fourteen years to write–
‘Cause I’m just one inch tall).

Analysis, meaning and summary of Shel Silverstein's poem One Inch Tall

9 Comments

  1. olivia says:

    i am going to use it for my competition tooooooooooooooo!

  2. andresha barker says:

    this poem is so cool
    im going to use it for my school speech contest

  3. poornima says:

    Such a cute imagination. Very readable and recitable too!Would like to know more about the poet and if there are any more writings from his pen

  4. ANDREA says:

    THE POEM WAS VERY GOOD.

  5. Bob says:

    This is the best poem!

  6. Brent Larsen says:

    I think that this poem is really interesting and funny.

  7. johanson says:

    i just wanted to say that i laove all your work and that i just wish i new more about you.

  8. alexandra says:

    i love this peom, because i know what its like to do things diferently since your smaller, actually im only 5’1 but appartently its “different”

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