Eletelephony

by Laura E. Richards

Eletelephony is Richards' best known poem. It was adapted and aired on the enduring children's program, Sesame Street for a phonics lesson featuring the letter "e" (of course!).

An illustration for the story Eletelephony by the author Laura E. Richards — Latabe the Elephant, self-portrait, safari park in UK, 2014

Once there was an elephant,
Who tried to use the telephant—
No! No! I mean an elephone
Who tried to use the telephone—
(Dear me! I am not certain quite
That even now I’ve got it right.)
Howe’er it was, he got his trunk
Entangled in the telephunk;
The more he tried to get it free,
The louder buzzed the telephee—
(I fear I’d better drop the song
Of elephop and telephong!)

Visit Children's Poems for more delightful poems and nonsense rhymes, and explore more Pre-K Wordplay!

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