This Poems for Kids online page is about poems for children to memorize, to read, to receive, about school, friends. Some are here and others may be found by following the links. Also some videos to help kids learn their ABC's
What the Romans Did for Us
Next time you're on a train Notice how long and skinny they are They're not much wider Than your Daddy's car
You have to use a calendar Because trains are thin If you don't book a seat They'll just not let you in
The Romans gave us our calendar Which is very handy, coz Without dates, you wouldn't know When your birthday was
If you look out the train window You might see tall arches over deep valleys That's a Roman invented aqueduct It's water that it carries
And if you're ill through overcrowding Because the trains are thin Say thanks to the Romans For they brought us medicine
And the train will be safe from robbers (Coz they're now all running banks) For our system of law and order The Romans deserve our thanks
If you're traveling in the Winter You'll be cozy on the train Because of the central heating We can thank those Romans again
If you're traveling in the Summer Thank the Romans for this too For without the baths they invented We'd all be Stinky Poo
If from the window, you see cars And trucks with heavy loads They'll be traveling fast and straight Along what once were Roman roads
And in giving thanks to the Romans Gratitude is what we say Why, even that word is Roman As are many, we speak today
And do you know why trains are skinny Why they're not very fat Well, we can blame the Romans..yes blame We can blame them for that
Trains were made thin To match the tramways in the street They kept them the same width To keep everything neat
The tramlines were that size Because of the covered wagons before They already had the manufacturing jigs And they didn't want to make more
The wagons were that size To match the ruts in the roads Caused by the Romans with their chariots Carrying heavy loads
The chariots were that size Not very wide To attach the shafts to two horses Running side by side
The Romans should have used animals Like an elephant or hippo or bull If they'd had much bigger bottoms Our trains wouldn't get so full
So next time your train arrives And it's already full when it comes Say loudly "All right... the Romans give us sanitation, roads, aqueducts,blah..blah... But they should have used animals... ...with much bigger bums
Jon Bratton 2009
This poem, altered slightly for a younger age group, can be found here, with a host more poems for kids on the theme
History for Kids
Fun Way to Learn A B C
Here's another in the collection Poems for Kids
What Would You Rather Bee or a Wasp?
A man goes into a fruit and veg store "I'll have two apples, an orange, oh and a wasp, by jingo" The shop keeper said "But sir, we don't sell wasps" "Really?" the man said "But, you've got some in the window!"
