If I Ran the Pet Shop | Teen Ink

If I Ran the Pet Shop

September 15, 2009
By M.G. James SILVER, San Diego, California
M.G. James SILVER, San Diego, California
9 articles 0 photos 0 comments

My Dad was a Policeman
But not anymore.
He now owns his very own Pet Store.

It’s really quite fun!
On my way home from school
I run and I run.

Up Bumblebee Street and down the way
The store’s in the same place
Day after day.

My Dad is quite proud
He thinks he runs things just right.
But I’m not so sure
If it were my store
It would be a much different sight.

And I can’t help but sigh
As I look through the window
Wondering and wishing just what “I” would buy.

If I ran the pet store
There’s no telling
What would come through that door.
Magical creatures and so much much more!

Dogs and Cats
Would be trained acrobats.
Sailing high
Tails together in the sky.

If I ran the pet store...
I’d let them all out
And then we would see
Some animals with great mystery.

Out would go the cats
Out would come the dogs
Then the horses and the sheep
And out the bouncing frogs.

Chimpanzees climbing out
My dad would be proud
No doubt!

Serpents and Lizards
Oh, what a sight
The parrots and birds would flutter in flight.

But why let them all out?
You may ask.
Well, it’s so they can
Make new animals for us to look at at last!

How boring these old animals are
It’s time for some new ones, by far!

The Cats would become friends
with the Bats.

The Dogs would become friends
with the Frogs.

Some Frogs would like the Dogs
Others would like the Macaws
Anything without too many paws.

Rhinos would become friends with the birds
Making new Rinosorerds.

Elephants with mice...
Oh, that sounds right!
They’d make baby Ellephise.

And Koalas with Penguins
They’d have Koalaguins.

Bears with Kangaroos
Why they might have Kangergoobears!

Zebras with Tigers
They’d probably have Zigers.

The Dog and the Frogs
Would make Dogafrogs.

The Turtles and Crickets
Would have Turtleickets.

People would gather from all around
Gazing with delight
Happy and cheerful at such a great sight!

The Cats and the Bats
Would surly make Catabats.

The Lamas and the Chickens
Would have baby Lamanickens.

The pigs and the ducks…
Let’s see…
They might have polka-dot elephants.

The Horses and Goats
Would have the first ever Gahorseaphoats.

Monkeys and Rabbits
Would have Monkeyoabbits.

The Toucan and Peacock
Would have a beautiful Pecantu!
Could you?

They’d praise me with pride
For what I had done
For I would have the best shop in the world
The best one that’s run!

And there would be Dad
Making his way through the crowd
With smiles and praise to say:
“My what a collection you’ve raised!”

I’d smile and say “It didn’t take much
Just some brains and some thinking
A good imagination and such.”


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This article has 5 comments.


Anno82 GOLD said...
on Nov. 29 2023 at 1:15 am
Anno82 GOLD, Austin, Texas
14 articles 0 photos 47 comments

Favorite Quote:
“Peace doesn't come from finding a lake with no storms. It comes from having Jesus in the boat." -John Ortberg
"God doesn't break things so He can fix them; He fixes broken things so He can use them." -Bob Goff
"Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?" -Corrie Ten Boom

I can just imagine this in a Dr. Seuss book! So cute 😊

Duckie430 said...
on Nov. 22 2010 at 9:11 am
Duckie430, Riverside, Rhode Island
0 articles 0 photos 228 comments

Favorite Quote:
“The secret to life is being who you are and being happy with who you are.”
"Whatever does not kill you only makes you stronger."

this is very cute :)

bessfran<3 said...
on Apr. 16 2010 at 4:45 pm
you are very creative...

Kitty said...
on Oct. 1 2009 at 3:17 pm
WoW! Your limirick took me on an adventure in the "wild" animal kingdom..love your magical creativity!

Give me more...

Kitty purr

pgossett said...
on Sep. 25 2009 at 11:32 am
nice poem i really liked it really u would let the animals go