Stop Look and Listen Poem

Written by master storyteller Carol Warren, this lighthearted yet powerful 3-minute poem shares the cautionary tale of Junior the earthworm — a hungry little fellow who learns too late the importance of listening to wise advice. With humor and heart, Stop, Look and Listen draws young and old alike into a memorable lesson rooted in Psalm 46:10:

“Be still, and know that I am God.”

Perfect for children’s church, family services, or anytime you want to share biblical truth through storytelling, this piece reminds us all to slow down, look to the Lord, and listen for His guidance — before we wiggle into trouble.

Bible Reference: Psalm 46:10
Time: 3
Minimum Cast (2 people)

• Narrator – reads the poem aloud
• Junior the Worm – acts out the poem silently with physical comedy

Live Action Performance Guide

• Narrator (reads the poem dramatically)
• Junior the Worm (actor in a fun worm costume or brown hoodie/sleeping bag)
• Bird (actor with feathers or a bird puppet)
• Worm’s Mom (optional, for the “warns him” scene)
• Moles or background critters (optional extra fun roles)

🎬 Simple Staging & Props

Scene 1 – Underground:

• A brown blanket or mound (dirt)
• Junior slithers/sniffs around on the floor
• Narrator stands to the side reading lines

Scene 2 – Surface:

• Green and blue cloth or cardboard backdrop (grass/sky)
• Tree branch prop (cardboard or stick for bird to perch on)
• Big cutout STOP sign for fun visuals
• Sound effect: bird chirp or swoosh

Optional:

• Fun sound effects: “sniff sniff,” digging, bird squawk, gulp
• A comical flop when Junior “gets eaten” (don't make it scary—more goofy than grim)

Sample of poem:

Once there was a little worm
He was so short and fat
He didn’t like it very much
But he was made like that
He was about two inches long
And very big around
Because he loved to eat the dirt
The worm lived in the ground
His eyes were behind him
His mouth and nose in front
His nose told him where to go
As food he’d sniff and hunt
His ears were in the middle
Just two little holes
It made it hard for him to hear
So he’d run into moles
His momma told him to beware
The birds that peck and lurk
“Stop, look, and listen,” she would say
“Or you’ll end up with hurt.”
But Junior was a hungry worm
Following his mouth
He never thought to use his eyes
Cause they were to his south
Then one day he surfaced
As he sniffed about
He felt a pain sharp and harsh
Pierce his little snout
He quickly tried to see
But his eyes were in the dirt
He didn’t want it to happen again
Because it really hurt . . .

Want to see how the story unfolds? DramaShare members get this complete script— and access to our entire library—free! Not a member? You can still grab this individual script and bring it to life.