I don’t have a dog;
I don’t have a cat;
I don’t have a fish
Or a bird or a rat.

Instead of these pets,
I have worms in a jar;
They can’t catch a ball,
And they don’t run real far.

They don’t jump to see me
(In fact, I’m ignored);
It’s not real exciting
Unless I am bored.

I’d wanted a puppy,
A gerbil, or mouse—
A pet that would follow me
All through the house.

But Mom didn’t seem
To be keen on this thought;
She said I could have worms,
So it’s worms that I got.

My worms don’t make noise;
They do no real work;
They don’t get offended
When friends point and smirk.

It’s not too much fun;
It’s as dull as it gets
To be the kid who
Has worms for her pets.

~ Barbara Vance