Talented Family

By Kenn Nesbitt b. 1962 Kenn Nesbitt

My family’s very talented,

I’m certain you’ll agree.

We each possess a special skill

that anyone can see.

My brother’s good at burying

his finger up his nose.

My sister’s good at covering

her room with dirty clothes.

My father’s good at eating soup

in big, disgusting slurps.

My mother’s good at cutting loose

with world-record burps.

Our dog is good at piddling

in the back seat of the car.

The baby’s good at putting

Pop-Tarts in the VCR.

Myself I’m good at sleeping late

and making lots of noise,

and cluttering the living room

with comic books and toys.

So though we’re very talented,

I’m sad to say it’s true:

We’re only good at doing things

we’re not supposed to do.

Kenn Nesbit, “Talented Family” from Kids Pick the Funniest Poems, edited by Bruce Lansky (Minnetonka, Minn.: Meadowbrook Press, 1999). Copyright © 1999 by Kenn Nesbitt. Reprinted with the permission of the author.

Source: Kids Pick the Funniest Poems (1991)

Biography

Kenn Nesbitt was born in Berkeley, California, in 1962. He grew up in Fresno and San Diego and currently lives in Washington state with his wife, children, and pets.

He is the author of numerous books of poetry for children, including Santa Got Stuck in the Chimney (2006), When the Teacher Isn’t Looking: And Other Funny School Poems (2005), and The Aliens Have Landed at Our School! (2001). His books abound with hilarious and . . .

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