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!