Whatif by Shel Silverstein


Last night, while I lay thinking here,


some Whatifs crawled inside my ear


and pranced and partied all
night long


and sang their same old
Whatif song:




Whatif I'm dumb in school?


Whatif they've closed the swimming pool?


Whatif I get
beat up?


Whatif there's poison in
my cup?


Whatif I start
to cry?


Whatif I get sick and die?


Whatif I flunk that test?


Whatif green hair grows on
my chest?


Whatif nobody likes me?


Whatif a bolt of lightning
strikes me?


Whatif I don't grow taller?


Whatif my head starts getting smaller?


Whatif the fish won't bite?


Whatif the wind tears up my kite?


Whatif they start a war?


Whatif my parents get divorced?


Whatif the bus
is late?


Whatif my teeth don't grow in straight?


Whatif I tear
my pants?


Whatif I never learn to dance?




Everything seems well,
and then


the nighttime Whatifs
strike again!