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The Broom, The Shovel, the Poker and the Tongs


The Broom, The Shovel, the Poker and the Tongs is from Edward Lear's collection of poems, The Jumblies, and Other Nonsense Verses (1910?). Lear's poems continue to delight and build confidence in early readers.


illustration for The Broom, the Shovel, the Poker and the Tongs I. THE Broom and the Shovel, the Poker and Tongs, They all took a drive in the Park, And they each sang a song, Ding-a-dong! Ding-a-dong! Before they went back in the dark. Mr. Poker he sat quite upright in the coach, Mr. Tongs made a clatter and clash, Miss Shovel was dressed all in black (with a brooch), Mrs. Broom was in blue (with a sash). Ding-a-dong! Ding-a-dong! And they all sang a song! II. โ€œO Shovely so lovely!โ€ the Poker he sang, โ€œYou have perfectly conquered my heart! โ€œDing-a-dong! Ding-a-dong! If youโ€™re pleased with my song โ€œI will feed you with cold apple tart! โ€œWhen you scrape up the coals with a delicate sound, โ€œYou enrapture my life with delight! โ€œYour nose is so shiny! your head is so round! โ€œAnd your shape is so slender and bright! โ€œDing-a-dong! Ding-a-dong! โ€œAinโ€™t you pleased with my song?โ€ III. โ€œAlas! Mrs. Broom!โ€ sighed the Tongs in his song, โ€œO is it because Iโ€™m so thin, โ€œAnd my legs are so longโ€”Ding-a-dong! Ding-a-dong! โ€œThat you donโ€™t care about me a pin? โ€œAh! fairest of creatures, when sweeping the room, โ€œAh! why donโ€™t you heed my complaint? โ€œMust you needs be so cruel, you beautiful Broom, โ€œBecause you are covered with paint? โ€œDing-a-dong! Ding-a-dong! โ€œYou are certainly wrong!โ€ IV. Mrs. Broom and Miss Shovel together they sang, โ€œWhat nonsense youโ€™re singing to-day!โ€ Said the Shovel, โ€œIโ€™ll certainly hit you a bang!โ€ Said the Broom, โ€œAnd Iโ€™ll sweep you away!โ€ So the Coachman drove homeward as fast as he could, Perceiving their anger with pain; But they put on the kettle, and little by little They all became happy again. Ding-a-dong! Ding-a-dong! Thereโ€™s an end of my song! illustration for The Broom, the Shovel, the Poker and the Tongs 2


Think how much fun can be had with a simple broom! dancing, jumping, singing, flying, dress up..oh, and cleaning. You might also enjoy this poem celebrating a broom, The Broom. Explore more Pre-K Wordplay!


Crowd Score: 8.0


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