Geology of the Pacific Northwest

Week 2:  READING THE ROCKS OF WASHINGTON

Rock Forms

Sedimentary Rocks

Mummy Slept Late And Daddy Fixed Breakfast
by John Ciardi, © 1992

Daddy fixed the breakfast.
He made us each a waffle.
It looked like gravel pudding.
It tasted something awful.

"Ha, ha," he said, "I'll try again.
This time I'll get it right."
But what I got was in between
bituminous and anthracite.

"A little too well done? Oh well,
I'll have to start all over."
That time what landed on my plate
Looked like a manhole cover.

I tried to cut it with a fork:
The fork gave off a spark.
I tried a knife and twisted it
Into a question mark.

I tried it with a hack-saw.
I tried it with a torch.
It didn't even make a dent.
It didn't even scorch.

The next time Dad gets breakfast
When Mommy's sleeping late,
I think I'll skip the waffles.
I'd sooner eat the plate!

© 1962, John Ciardi (1916-1986), You read to me, I'll read to you, p.18,
J.B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia (ISBN-0-397-30645-8). All rights reserved.

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