Ill tell you the story of Cloony the Clown Who worked in a circus that came through town. His shoes were too big and his hat was too small, But he just wasn't, just wasn't funny at all. He had a trombone to play loud silly tunes, He had a green dog and a thousand balloons. He was floppy and sloppy and skinny and tall, But he just wasn't, just wasn't funny at all. And every time he did a trick, Everyone felt a little sick. And every time he told a joke, Folks sighed as if their hearts were broken. And every time he lost a shoe, Everyone looked awfully blue.

And every time he stood on his head, Everyone screamed, "Go back to bed!" And every time he made a leap, Everybody fell asleep. And every time he ate his tie, Everyone began to cry. And Cloony could not make any money Simply because he was not funny. One day he said, "I'll tell this town How it feels to be an unfunny clown." And he told them all why he looked so sad, And he told them all why he felt so bad. He told of Pain and Rain and Cold, He told of Darkness in his soul, And after he finished his tale of woe, Did everyone cry? Oh no, no, no,

They laughed until they shook the trees With "Hah-Hah-Hahs" and "Hee-Hee-Hees." They laughed with howls and yowls and shrieks, They laughed all day, they laughed all week, They laughed until they had a fit, They laughed until their jackets split. The laughter spread for miles around To every city, every town, Over mountains, cross the sea, From Saint Tropez to Mun San Nee. And soon the whole world rang with laughter, Lasting till forever after, While Cloony stood in the circus tent, With his head drooped low and his shoulders bent. And he said, "THAT IS NOT WHAT I MEANT -

IM FUNNY JUST BY ACCIDENT." And while the world laughed outside. Cloony the Clown sat down and cried. They said come skating; They said its so nice. They said come skating; Id done it twice. They said come skating; It sounded nice. I wore roller- They meant ice. Danny ODare, the dancin bear, Ran away from the County Fair, Ran right up to my back stair And thought hed do some dancin there. He started jumpin and skippin and kickin, He did a dance called the Funky Chicken, He did the Polka, he did the Twist, He bent himself into a pretzel like this. He did the Dog and the Jitterbug,

He did the Jerk and the Bunny Hug. He did the Waltz and the Boogaloo, He did the Hokey-Pokey too. He did the Bop and the Mashed Potata, He did the Split and the See Ya Later. And now he's down upon one knee, Bowin oh so charmingly, And winkin and smilin--its easy to see Danny ODare wants to dance with me. How many slams in an old screen door? Depends how loud you shut it. How many slices in a bread? Depends how thin you cut it. How much good inside a day? Depends how good you live em. How much love inside a friend? Depends how much you give em. Buy Shel Silversteins Poetry

I am writing these poems From inside a lion, And its rather dark in here. So please excuse the handwriting Which may not be too clear. But this afternoon by the lions cage Im afraid I got too near. And Im writing these lines From inside a lion, And its rather dark in here.