Putrid Poetry: Day 4: Pimple Popping

Louis J. Pasternak
Poetry Assignment #4: Repetition

Pimple Popping

There’s a pimple on my cheek
and I’m dying just to pop it
I was picking at it yesterday
’til Marty hollered, “Stop it!”

It’s shiny and it’s white
and I’m dying just to pop it
Bran shows off his callus
but he knows that doesn’t top it

I’d love to see it burst
and I’m dying just to pop it
The pus would spray and squirt out
and I’d have to stop and mop it

Miss S – It’s really about my older brother, Alex. But it sounded grosser if I made it sound like it was me.

Louis, I am speechless.

Yes! Score one for me.
Bran yanked this poem off my desk. He read it and pretended to pop a giant pimple toward Arami. She was grossed out. Then he passed it on to Marty.
Marty farted. So you know it was good.

By recess, everyone had read my poem.
“C’mon, how’d you miss that shot?”
“Louis’ pimple was distracting me!”
“Where you going, Louis?”
“He has to stop and mop it!”
I.
Was.
A.
Poetry.
Star.

8 Responses

  1. Laura, I love these poems! Having raised two boys, and now I have two granddaughters in middle school, I know these are perfect for middle schoolers. Will there be a hard copy book in the future?

    1. Thanks, Pat. I wish! Only 2 people have even paid $3.95 to download it, so while I had thought that if it did well, I might turn it into a Kindle book or paperback book, there’s too much work involved in that for the few people who would likely buy it. I wanted to make it available, so I’m giving it away free on the blog and as an inexpensive downloadable. But I just can’t afford to put more time into it for no return. It came close to being picked up by a publisher a couple of times, but no go. It made the rounds from 2008 to 2015, but when the latest interested publisher backed out, I decided to just share it. It doesn’t easily fit into a common trade book format, so it’s a hard match for publishers. Thanks for asking, though:>) Glad you’re enjoying the poems! (Please share–maybe word will get around…)

  2. I too have been enjoying Louis’ poetry, especially this one which made me laugh out loud! I can see how the collection would have attracted editors’ attention. Phooey for no one taking it–but I’m glad you’re sharing it.

  3. I am glad you are sharing it too…thank you, Laura. Like the teacher, I was speechless today. Told my family about the poem at dinner, and we all got a good laugh imagining the Louis! xx

    1. Thanks, Amy! Shh, don’t tell, but this disgusting poem was inspired by one of my own family members and some growing-up memories. eeeuuwww.

  4. Laura, this poem is hilarious, especially since my husband has a huge pimple that appeared on his nose and makes him look like Rudolph. I am going to read the poem to him. I am surprised that publishers aren’t clamoring to pick up this humorous series.

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 2,548 other subscribers

Are You Looking For?

Poetry Friday posts

Classroom Connections posts

All my poetryactions

Go to my Poetry page for:

  • National Poetry Month projects through the years
  • Small Reads Roundups (poems grouped by topic)
  • Introductions to several favorite poetry forms
Tags
#waterpoemproject15 Words or Less Poems20for2030 Painless Classroom Poems50 State Poemsacrosticsactivity pagesactivity sheetALAA Leaf Can Be...Amy Ludwig VanDerwaterA Need to FeedanthologiesanthologyA Rock Can Be...art projectsaudiopoemsawardsbad newsBarbara Juster EsbensenBilly Collinsbiopoemsblog tourbookalikesbook festivalsBookSpeak!book spine poemsbook trailersbop poembyr a thoddaidcafepresscalendar poemsCamp Read-a-LotCan Be... bookscan be... poemsCapstoneCarol Varsalonacascade poemsCatherine FlynnccbcCCRA.W.3CCRA.W.4CCRA.W.5centoschapter booksCharles Waterschoral compositionschristina rossetticinquainsCLAclassified ad poemsclassroom connectionclassroom connectionsClover Kittyconferences and conventionscrown sonnetscybilsdansaDare to DreamDavid Elliottdeeper wisdom poemdefinitosdiamantesdiversitydizaindodoitsuDot DayDouglas Floriandownloadablesdrum corpse.e. cummingsekphrastic poemsepistolary poemsequation poemsessentialethereeseventsexquisite corpseFairy Tale Garage Salefamilyfibonaccifiction picture booksfinding familyfirefightersforeign editionsfound poemsfree author zoomsfree versefrom studentsgeesegeorgia heardghazalGift Taggiveawaygolden shovelgoldilocksgratitudehaikuheart of aheart of a teacherHeidi MordhorstHelen FrostHighlightshow-to poemshow to make a rainbowI Am FromI Am poemsidiomsif you want to knit some mittensIf You Were the MoonILAimagepoemsinterviewin the middle of the nightIRAIrelandIrene LathamJ. Patrick LewisJanet WongJoyce SidmanKendraKerlanKidlit Comboslailaura's board booksLaura's booksLaura's poemsLaura's readingsLaura ShovanLee Bennett HopkinsLilian MoorelimericksLinda Booth SweeneyLine Leads the WayLion of the Skylist poemslittle free librarylive writingLullaby and Kisses Sweetlyricsmadness poetrymagnipoemsmargaret simonMarilyn Singermary lee hahnmask poemsMatt Forrest EsenwineMeet My FamilyMelissa StewartMentors for Rentmentor textsmetaphorMichelle Myers LacknerMillbrookMinnesota Book Awardsmoneymoonmy reading lifemy writing processN+7naaninarrative poemsNational Poetry Month 2012 (haiku a day)National Poetry Month 2014 (riddle-ku)National Poetry Month 2015National Poetry Month 2016National Poetry Month 2017 (#wonderbreak)national poetry month 2018 (haiku a day)National Poetry Month 2020National Poetry Month 2021 (#EquationPoem)national poetry month 2022 (sticky-note poems)National Poetry Month 2023 (Digging for Poems)National Poetry Month 2024 (magnipoems)ncteNerdy Book Clubnifty newsnifty stuffNikki Grimesnonfictionnonfiction booksNonfiction Writers Dig Deepnovelsnovels in verseodesOne Minute Till BedtimeoppositifyOskar's VoyagepadletpantoumsparodiesPatreonpeacepersonalpet poemsphotopoetryphrase acrosticspicture booksplagiarismpoempicspoemspoems for two voicespoemsketchpoetic pursuitsPoetry 7poetryactionspoetry activitiesPoetry Blastpoetry booksPoetry FridayPoetry Friday AnthologiesPoetry Princessespoetry promptspoetry sistersPoetry Tips for Teachersprogressive poempublishing processpuddle songPutridquotationsraccontinosRandy Salasread-aloudreadaloudreading poetry in the classroomRebecca Kai Dotlichrecipe poemsrefugeesresearchreview copiesreviewsrevisionrhyming booksrhyming nonfictionrhyming picture booksRhyming Picture Books the Write Wayrhyming poemsRiddle-kuriddle poemsRock Can Be...Rock the Blogrondeau redoublesRudyard Kiplingsalas snippetsSCBWIschool visitsScotlandseasonssecrets of the loonSELsestinasshrinking daysskinnyskypeslice of lifesmall readssnack snooze skedaddlesnowman-coldsonnetsStampede!storm poemstorytimestorywalkstudent poemsstudent workSylvia VardellTanita Davistankatautogramteachableteacher resourcesteen/adult poemsterza rimasthankfulthank yous and referencesthe business sidethings to do iftracy nelson maurertrioletstunie munson-bensonvideosVikram MadanvillanellevillanellesWater Can Be...wealthy elementaryWe BelongWhat's InsideWhy-kuwinterwonderwonderbreakword of the yearwordplaywordsmithswork for hirewritingwriting bookswriting processwriting promptswriting the life poeticyoung authors conferencesYouTubeZapZap Clap Boomzenozentangle
Show More Show Less

Discover more from Laura Purdie Salas

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading

Join Laura's monthly newsletter for eductators

Get three of Laura's favorite poetry activities when you subscribe to "Small Reads."