A ripe peach with an ugly bruise,
a pair of stinky tennis shoes,
a day-old ham-and-cheese on rye,
a swimsuit that I left to dry,
a pencil that glows in the dark,
some bubble gum found in the park,
a paper bag with cookie crumbs,
an old kazoo that barely hums,
a spelling test I almost failed,
a letter that I should have mailed,
and one more thing, I must confess,
a note from teacher: Clean This Mess!!!!

Text © Bruce Lansky, reprinted from No More Homework! No More Tests! published by Meadowbrook Press. Illustration © Stephen Carpenter. Any copying or use of this poem or illustration without consent is unlawful.

The Story Behind the Poem:
I’ve always been a pack rat who doesn’t throw anything out. That’s why my school desk was completely gross. I got many notes from teachers to "Clean This Mess."

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