Poetry Race

[THE LEGEND]

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!



Betty Botter

Betty Botter
bought some butter.
"But," she said,
"the butter's bitter.
If I put it
in my batter,
it will make
my batter bitter.
But a bit
of better butter--
that would make
my batter better."

So she bought
a bit of butter,
better than
her bitter butter.
And she put it
in her batter,
and the batter
was not bitter.
So 'twas better
Betty Botter
bought a bit
of better butter!


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!