Quality Control
Good afternoon,
I’m from the Little Brother Inspection Crew
I’m here to conduct a yearly review
We’ll rate your brother and give him a grade
Who knows, you might be due for a trade
The following questions will tell us whether
Your brother and you should stay together:
When you eat his dessert, does he whine and gripe?
Does he ever “catch on” when hunting Snipe?
Can you give two pennies and take his dime -
(Cause two is more, in a young’uns mind)
Does he share your fear of circus clowns?
Are his favorite clothes your hand-me-downs?
Did he rat when you set the yard on fire,
Or put the dog in the clothes dryer?
Was he mad when you gave him a new “haircut?”
Did he tell Katie M. that you like her butt?
Is he always “it” when playing tag?
Does he crack when he’s trapped in his sleeping bag?
When invited to play, does he ever refuse,
Even though he knows he’ll always lose?
Thank you for completing our questionnaire
It seems you two are quite the pair
We’ll have the results in a day or two
And let you know if he’s right for you
Until that time, please think of this –
You wouldn’t survive -- if he was your sis.
I’m from the Little Brother Inspection Crew
I’m here to conduct a yearly review
We’ll rate your brother and give him a grade
Who knows, you might be due for a trade
The following questions will tell us whether
Your brother and you should stay together:
When you eat his dessert, does he whine and gripe?
Does he ever “catch on” when hunting Snipe?
Can you give two pennies and take his dime -
(Cause two is more, in a young’uns mind)
Does he share your fear of circus clowns?
Are his favorite clothes your hand-me-downs?
Did he rat when you set the yard on fire,
Or put the dog in the clothes dryer?
Was he mad when you gave him a new “haircut?”
Did he tell Katie M. that you like her butt?
Is he always “it” when playing tag?
Does he crack when he’s trapped in his sleeping bag?
When invited to play, does he ever refuse,
Even though he knows he’ll always lose?
Thank you for completing our questionnaire
It seems you two are quite the pair
We’ll have the results in a day or two
And let you know if he’s right for you
Until that time, please think of this –
You wouldn’t survive -- if he was your sis.
This poem is copyright (©) Webb Smith 2026

About the Writer
Webb Smith
Webb Smith is a firefighter from Atlanta who loves pizza, Halloween, and everything about the ocean. His works have appeared in magazines and received recognition from various writing groups. As an active member of SCBWI, he has written, illustrated, and self-published three books that can be viewed at www.webbsmithbooks.com.