Poetry Race

by Bruce Lansky

Its always fun to listen while some, poor, unsuspecting soul becomes totally unglued while trying to recite a tongue twister. Of course, reciting a tongue twister is not quite as fun for the performer -- unless he or she has practiced a few times.

One of my favorite things to do when I visit schools is to hold a Poetry Race. The poem I use for the race is "Betty Botter," a traditional tongue tripper (and lip flapper). You and your friends can try this at home. Simply get a stopwatch, practice the poem a few times, then see who can say it correctly the fastest!

How good a tongue twister are you?

40 seconds and over:
Too slow. Your grandparents could say the poem faster.

30 to 40 seconds:
Not bad. You're probably a faster talker than the President.

20 to 30 seconds:
Pretty good. You've been gifted with a fast pair of lips.

15 to 20 seconds:
Excellent. You can out talk anyone around.

14 seconds or less:
You are a tongue tying champion!

Betty Botter's Biting Beaver

Betty Botter bought a beaver.
But the beastly beaver bit her.
So she bought a biting badger.
And the badger bit the beaver.
Since the badger bit the beaver,
now the beaver will not bite her.
So 'twas better Betty Botter
bought a beaver-biting badger.

© 2002 by Bruce Lansky, reprinted from Funny Little Poems for Funny Little People, published by Meadowbrook Press.

A word to the wise: the more often you practice reading a tongue twister out loud, the faster and smoother you'll be able to read it. Here's one more tip: take about three deep breaths before you start reading. You might be able to read the whole poem on a single breath of air. Okay, are you ready? Get set. Go try it again!