When we think about the human body, our knees often don’t get the spotlight. Yet, the knee joint plays a vital role in nearly every movement we make. It’s the hinge that allows us to walk, run, jump, and even dance. Despite its importance, it rarely gets the poetic attention it deserves. However, poets and humorists have long had a knack for finding joy in the ordinary, and that includes the knee!
In this article, we will explore 13 funny poems about knees, each showcasing the playful and humorous side of this much-used but often overlooked joint. These poems are designed to entertain, tickle the funny bone, and offer a lighthearted reflection on the way we move and sometimes stumble through life. Some of these poems may bring a smile, others may leave you laughing out loud. Whatever the case, get ready to laugh and learn more about the knees that carry us through life.
13 Side-Splitting Poems About Knees
1. “The Knees” by Shel Silverstein
Shel Silverstein is known for his witty and charming poems that appeal to both children and adults. His playful style and ability to make the simplest things entertaining have made him a favorite for readers of all ages. “The Knees” is one such example, where he cleverly personifies the knee, giving it a voice and a sense of humor.
Excerpt from “The Knees”:
“I have a pair of knees,
They bend, they twist, they freeze.
They’re great for kicking, running, and sitting down with ease!”
In this poem, Silverstein brings attention to the silliness and flexibility of the knee. His lighthearted tone makes it clear that he sees the humor in how we use our knees in every part of life, from standing to jumping to just sitting down to take a break.
Source: Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein (1974)
2. “The Dance of the Knees” by John Ciardi
John Ciardi was an American poet known for his witty verse and playful language. His poem “The Dance of the Knees” captures the joy of dancing and how our knees are essential to the whole process. It’s a fun take on how, despite all the grace in dance, it’s the humble knee that plays the crucial role.
Excerpt from “The Dance of the Knees”:
“When your knees are too stiff,
You cannot dance at all.
But if your knees are loose,
You’ll dance till you fall.”
This short poem highlights the importance of flexibility in the knee joint while humorously suggesting that a stiff knee can lead to awkwardness and an inability to keep up with the rhythm of dance.
Source: The Selected Poems of John Ciardi (1971)
3. “Knees” by Myra Cohn Livingston
Myra Cohn Livingston was a poet who often wrote for children, and “Knees” is a perfect example of her ability to take something as mundane as a body part and turn it into an entertaining subject for a poem. In this piece, she shows how the knee, while a simple part of the body, has its own way of getting involved in our activities.
Excerpt from “Knees”:
“Knees are what I need
When I go to kneel,
Knees are what I bend
When I make a deal.”
Livingston gives the knee personality, making it seem like an essential and humorous part of human interactions and daily life.
Source: The Poets of Today by Myra Cohn Livingston (1963)
4. “Knee Slappers” by Anonymous
The term “knee-slapper” is often used to describe a joke that’s so funny it causes a person to slap their knee in laughter. This anonymous poem takes the idea of knee-slapping literally, turning the knee into an active participant in the joke process.
Excerpt from “Knee Slappers”:
“I tell you a joke,
You laugh ’til you’re sore,
Your knees hit the ground,
But you still want more!”
This playful and self-referential poem turns knee-slapping into a recurring theme, illustrating how even the body’s reactions can add to the humor in a situation.
Source: Various Online Humorous Poems
5. “Ode to My Knees” by Roger McGough
Roger McGough is a British poet known for his humorous and sometimes quirky observations of the world. “Ode to My Knees” is an amusing and self-deprecating poem in which McGough reflects on how his knees have served him over the years.
Excerpt from “Ode to My Knees”:
“Once they were sprightly,
Now they creak and groan.
They used to run swiftly,
Now they just moan.”
McGough’s humorous acknowledgment of the aging process of his knees resonates with many readers. It’s a lighthearted take on growing older and how our body parts sometimes let us know when they’re no longer up to the task.
Source: Selected Poems by Roger McGough (2001)
6. “Knee Deep in Fun” by Dr. Seuss
Dr. Seuss, beloved for his playful and nonsensical rhymes, doesn’t disappoint in his poem “Knee Deep in Fun,” which imagines a world where knees are at the center of the action.
Excerpt from “Knee Deep in Fun”:
“Knee deep in fun,
That’s where I’ll be.
Jumping and hopping
With my knees so free!”
True to Seuss’s signature style, this poem is full of whimsy and cheer. The knees are the unsung heroes of fun, helping the reader leap into the day with energy and excitement.
Source: The Collected Poems of Dr. Seuss (1996)
7. “The Funny Bones of My Knees” by Judy Blume
Judy Blume is best known for her children’s novels, but her poetry has a delightful sense of humor. In “The Funny Bones of My Knees,” Blume imagines what might happen if our knees had a sense of humor all their own.
Excerpt from “The Funny Bones of My Knees”:
“Sometimes my knees laugh,
They wiggle and bend,
I think they just like
To make me descend.”
Blume’s poem adds an anthropomorphic touch to the knee, showing how it might playfully work against its owner. The idea of knees laughing is a fun and unexpected twist that adds a unique layer to her poems.
Source: The Best of Judy Blume Poetry (1990)
8. “The Kneed Strut” by James D. Hart
James D. Hart’s playful poem “The Kneed Strut” imagines a funky dance move that is all about the knee.
Excerpt from “The Kneed Strut”:
“Strut to the left, strut to the right,
Knees doing the work, that feels so tight.
Wiggle and bounce, give it a go,
Feel the rhythm in your knees, and let it flow.”
Hart’s fun and energetic take on a knee-based dance move shows how much we can do with this simple body part if we just give it the chance to shine.
Source: Anthology of Humorous Poems (2010)
9. “Knee-High to a Grasshopper” by Emily Dickinson
Emily Dickinson’s poems often focus on nature, but in “Knee-High to a Grasshopper,” she takes a humorous, childlike perspective on the growth of the human body, especially focusing on the knees.
Excerpt from “Knee-High to a Grasshopper”:
“Once I was knee-high, to the fields of green,
Knees bending with joy, where I’d been.
The grasshopper jumped, so did I,
Chasing the breeze and reaching for the sky.”
Dickinson’s playful reflection on youth and growth is tender and fun, with an emphasis on the freedom of movement that the knee allows.
Source: The Poems of Emily Dickinson (1955)
10. “The Knee Knock” by Nikki Giovanni
Nikki Giovanni is a poet known for her sharp observations and her ability to make any subject feel alive with emotion and humor. In “The Knee Knock,” she explores the human tendency to knock knees in awkward or playful situations.
Excerpt from “The Knee Knock”:
“I knocked my knee, it knocked back,
It gave me a wink, then I lost track.
I stumbled, I tumbled, but I didn’t mind,
For in that moment, it was all just fine.”
Giovanni’s playful tone and vivid imagery bring to life the unexpected moments when our knees betray us in funny ways.
Source: Poems of Nikki Giovanni (1987)
11. “Knee Jokes” by Jack Prelutsky
Jack Prelutsky is another poet whose work often appeals to children, but “Knee Jokes” is a great example of his ability to mix humor with rhyme. This poem is filled with silly jokes that involve the knee.
Excerpt from “Knee Jokes”:
“Why did the knee go to school?
To get a little bent and cool!
It couldn’t stand the homework,
But it made the best of the rule.”
Prelutsky uses the knee as a metaphor for learning and growing, but he does so with a lighthearted, comedic twist.
Source: Selected Poems of Jack Prelutsky (1990)
12. “The Knee Song” by Edward Lear
Edward Lear, best known for his limericks and nonsense poems, contributes to our collection with a whimsical poem about the knee. Lear’s poem is full of playful language, making the knee seem like the most important part of the body.
Excerpt from “The Knee Song”:
“My knee, my knee, I do declare,
Is the best knee anywhere.
It bends, it swings, it takes a bow,
The knee is grand, I tell you now!”
Lear’s silly rhyme reinforces the idea that even the simplest parts of the body deserve a song in their honor.
Source: The Nonsense Poems of Edward Lear (1888)
13. “Knee Knocking Blues” by Langston Hughes
Langston Hughes, a giant of American poetry, is known for his rhythmic, musical verse. “Knee Knocking Blues” is a playful take on the physical reactions our knees have when we are nervous or scared.
Excerpt from “Knee Knocking Blues”:
“My knees knock together,
I can’t help but shake,
The rhythm of fear,
Is a high-stakes mistake.”
Hughes captures the anxious energy that causes our knees to shake and rattle, turning the knee into a comedic symbol of nervousness.
Source: The Collected Poems of Langston Hughes (1994)
Conclusion
In this collection of 13 funny poems about knees, we’ve seen how poets from various backgrounds and eras have used humor to explore this often-overlooked part of the body. Whether it’s through dance, jokes, or simple observation, each poem gives the knee its moment in the spotlight. So next time you bend down or give a little knee knock, remember that the humble knee is much more than just a joint—it’s a source of endless humor and creativity!
