My Friend The Monster Our vacuum is a monster Who gobbles up the dirt. He gulps up paper, strings, and grass As if they were dessert. He pokes his nose in corners And under every chair. And all the little cookie crumbs Had better just beware! He roars across the carpet And flips his tail behind; Then sneaks around a table leg To see what he can find. And though he’s always gulping Whatever he can see, He’ll always be my monster friend And never swallow me. Janet R. Balmforth, “My Friend the Monster,” Friend, Oct 1972, 15