“He should not be here, " said the fish in the pot. " he should not be here when your mother is not.”

“I know, up on top you are seeing great sights, but down here at the bottom we, too, should have rights.”

“And today the great Yertle, that Marvelous he, Is king of the Mud. That is all he can see.And the turtles of course... all the turtles are freeAs turtles and, maybe, all creatures should be.”

“From there to here, from here to there, funny things are everywhere!”

“Waiting for the fish to bite or waiting for wind to fly a kite. Or waiting around for Friday night or waiting perhaps for their Uncle Jake or a pot to boil or a better break or a string of pearls or a pair of pants or a wig with curls or another chance. Everyone is just waiting.”

“Not here not there not anywhere!”

“One fish Two fish Red fish Blue fish!”