Why I'm Late for School (National Hippo Day, February 15th) by J Patrick Lewis, illustrated from Anna Raff

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National Hippo Day, February 15th

Why I'm Late for School

This hippopotamus thinks I'm a stool.
I wish he'd let me up to go to school.
If he squatted on my finger or one hand,
One knee or elbow, I could understand.
But head to toe? That makes it awful hard
To have a conversation with the lard!
Though not as hard as telling Mr. Bruce
My teacher, the old hippo-on-the-loose-
Who's-flattened-my whole-body's my excuse!


From: 
World Rat Day: Poems About Real Holidays 
You've Never Heard Of 
by J Patrick Lews, illustrated by Anna Raff

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