My Mother's Day gift from my 11-year-old son. You can take the Shel Silverstein away from the boy, but you can't take the Shel Silverstein out of the boy.

Ode to an Alien

Paul Birtwistle

Sometimes I sit and wonder

What I oughta do

When aliens arrive and say,

"Howdy-doody moo."

Should I say it back or maybe

Something else instead,

Like "Welcome to our land"

Or maybe offer them your bed?

Should I maybe laugh

And say, "I think your accent's funny,"

Or maybe act all serious

And give them jars of hunny?

Sometimes I sit and wonder

What I oughta do

When aliens arrive and say,

"Howdy-doody moo!"