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By Eve Merriam

Once upon a time
I caught a little rhyme


I set it on the floor
but it ran right out the door


I chased it on my bicycle
but it melted to an icicle


I scooped it up in my hat
but it turned into a cat


I caught it by the tail
but it stretched into a whale


I followed it in a boat
but it changed into a goat


When I fed it tin and paper
it became a tall skyscraper


Then it grew into a kite
and flew far out of sight …


Eve Merriam, “Catch a Little Rhyme” from Catch a Little Rhyme (New York: Atheneum, 1966). Copyright © 1966, 1994 by Eve Merriam. Reprinted with the permission of Marian Reiner.

Source: The Oxford Illustrated Book of American Children’s Poems (1999)

  • Arts & Sciences

Poet Bio

Eve Merriam
Eve Merriam was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and attended Cornell as well as the University of Pennsylvania. Merriam was a poet, playwright, and teacher, who wrote more than 50 books of poetry and prose. She is best-known for her controversial book Inner City Mother Goose, which was adapted into the Broadway musical Inner City. Merriam also wrote numerous books of children's poetry and was awarded the National Council of Teachers of English Award for excellence in children's poetry. See More By This Poet

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