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August 17, 2011 6:19 PM

What would be a good poem/saying/verse for a little boy of 8 to read at the wedding of his dad? Mom is trying to help but is stumped.

A friend has been given the task to help her son write something for her ex's husband's wedding. The ex and she are on good terms, and she wants to help but it is hard to get an 8 year old to write something like this. I suggested a poem and looked through previous questions- but couldn't find something appropriate for a little boy.

posted by momochan to Writing & Language (8 answers total)

Best answer: Hug O' War (Shel Silverstein), if not too short, is absolutely adorable and would probably get a lot of awwws.

I will not play at tug o' war.
I'd rather play at hug o' war,
Where everyone hugs
Instead of tugs,
Where everyone giggles
And rolls on the rug,
Where everyone kisses,
And everyone grins,
And everyone cuddles,
And everyone wins.
posted by phunniemee at 6:32 PM on August 17, 2011 [8 favorites]

This might be a little much, but have you seen this video of a three-year-old reading Billy Collins' "Litany"? Granted, that kid is a bit obsessed, but I think your kid could do it well, especially with a video example.
posted by Madamina at 6:44 PM on August 17, 2011

Parts of this

When I'm lyin' in my bed at night
I don't wanna grow up
Nothin' ever seems to turn out right
I don't wanna grow up
How do you move in a world of fog
That's always changing things
Makes me wish that I could be a dog
When I see the price that you pay
I don't wanna grow up
I don't ever wanna be that way
I don't wanna grow up

Seems like folks turn into things
That they'd never want
The only thing to live for
Is today
I'm gonna put a hole in my TV set
I don't wanna grow up
Open up the medicine chest
And I don't wanna grow up
I don't wanna have to shout it out
I don't want my hair to fall out
I don't wanna be filled with doubt
I don't wanna be a good boy scout
I don't wanna have to learn to count
I don't wanna have the biggest amount
I don't wanna grow up

Well when I see my parents fight
I don't wanna grow up
They all go out and drinking all night
And I don't wanna grow up
I'd rather stay here in my room
Nothin' out there but sad and gloom
I don't wanna live in a big old Tomb
On Grand Street

When I see the 5 o'clock news
I don't wanna grow up
Comb their hair and shine their shoes
I don't wanna grow up
Stay around in my old hometown
I don't wanna put no money down
I don't wanna get me a big old loan
Work them fingers to the bone
I don't wanna float a broom
Fall in and get married then boom
How the hell did I get here so soon
I don't wanna grow up
posted by pianomover at 7:04 PM on August 17, 2011

Just ask the kid what he thinks of his Dad getting married, ask how he feels about the new woman in his life, and make a list. For tear-jerking potential, ask what he imagines the future with them together will be like, and what he wishes it might be like. Again, add this to the list.

Pick the best three or five or ten things from the list, and voila - you don't have to put it into "top 10" form (and I'd discourage that), but when you get a good list together, the rest could well write itself.

When asking/making the list, don't present it to the kid as "OK, make a list of the things you like about ___________". Have a conversation with him, and make the list incidentally; this way, you get more detail, and the dialog can get to more essential, heartfelt ideas.
posted by amtho at 7:08 PM on August 17, 2011

My vote's for the Shel Silverstein thing. There are a few good ones to pick from, and it's totally within his intellectual grasp.
posted by SMPA at 7:38 PM on August 17, 2011

One vote for "don't do this". I remarried when my son was 8 to a wonderful man who has been a great stepfather since - and despite all the good terms and good will this was a very stressful event for my son. I would take off the pressure and suggest that the newly married couple toast the kid(s) at the reception instead.
posted by mozhet at 8:21 PM on August 17, 2011 [1 favorite]

No idea, but here's the SLYT for your title.
posted by DoctorBananas at 8:28 PM on August 17, 2011

oops
posted by DoctorBananas at 8:29 PM on August 17, 2011