Confession

By Bruce Lansky b. 1941 Bruce Lansky

I have a brief confession

that I would like to make.

If I dont get it off my chest

I'm sure my heart will break.

I didn't do my reading.

I watched TV instead—

while munching cookies, cakes, and chips

and cinnamon raisin bread.

I didn't wash the dishes.

I didn't clean the mess.

Now there are roaches eating crumbs—

a million, more or less.

I didn't turn the TV off.

I didn't shut the light.

Just think of all the energy

I wasted through the night.

I feel so very guilty.

I did a lousy job.

I hope my students don't find out

that I am such a slob.

Source: My Dog Ate My Homework! (Meadowbrook Press, 2002)

Biography

Bruce Lansky is an internationally known poet and anthologist. He has a passion for getting children excited about reading and writing poetry. Lansky's poetry books—including Mary Had a Little Jam; Peter, Peter, Pizza-Eater; If Kids Ruled the School; and Rolling in the Aisles—are currently among America's best-selling children's poetry books. He is also the editor of the middle-grade fiction series Girls to the Rescue and . . .

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