Guess
by John Ciardi
ONE is a creeper and sleepy in his shell. TWO is a hopper and he hops
very well. THREE is a flopper and his flippers flap. FOUR is a jumper
with a jump-in lap. FIVE is a drinker with a dip-in nose. SIX is a
dipper with flippers on his toes. SEVEN is a tapper with a tripper in
his beak. EIGHT is a nutter with a nut-sack in his cheek. NINE is a
hanger with a banger in his head. TEN is The Stopper who stepped in and
said: “It’s time for the guessing. Here in a line Are all the numbers
from one to nine.
Now look about you, and right or wrong Guess, if you can, where they
belong.”
