I’ll Never Ride the Waterslide

Welcome to Poetry4kids. I’m Kenn Nesbitt.

When I was 11 years old, my school took the sixth graders on a field trip to the mountains where there was snow. Many of the kids brought sleds or inflatable tubes to ride down the hills, and I brought a tube as well. At first, I was too scared to ride it, so I sat out and watched. Unfortunately, I also forgot to bring my lunch that day. While the other kids were eating, I finally worked up the courage to try the hill. Let’s just say it didn’t go as planned—I ran into a tree and broke my leg.

Ever since then, I’ve been much more cautious about slides and other fast downhill activities, like skiing, sledding, skateboarding, and even cycling. This poem is a humorous take on that experience, with a winter twist. It’s also a reminder that sometimes being a little cautious isn’t such a bad idea!

I’ll Never Ride the Waterslide

I’ll never ride the waterslide,
not after yesterday.
I tried the slide, then cried and cried.
I should have stayed away.

I banged my back and belly up.
My bottom’s badly bruised.
I heard it should be lots of fun.
I’m totally confused.

But still, I learn from my mistakes.
I will not do it twice.
I’ll never ride the slide again
in winter when it’s ice.

— Kenn Nesbitt