LEAVES
Leaves have thousands of brothers and sisters
Leaves jostle and elbow one another
Leaves wave at the sky when it’s breezy
Leaves batter window panes on windy nights
Leaves have veins but never get varicose veins
Leaves never have to go on diets
Leaves abandon trees in winter and gather in piles in autumn
Leaves sizzle like steaks on a barbie when there are bushfires
Leaves make friends with fruit
Leaves are McDonald’s for hungry koalas
Leaves hate kerosene and matches.
© Dianne Bates
dibates@outlook.com
Note: I wrote this poem as an example to my child writing students to show them how they can think laterally about commonplace objects. The idea came from Steven Herrick’s wonderful poem, Walls, which I also display to students. Di
Australian Children’s Poetry 
Excellent poem, Di. And a great example for kids on how they can write on everyday things and make them memorable. x
Love it Di.
Today ‘Leaves’ is off to Providence U3A DIY POETRY. Will email response. Have sent it to my Mother in Ave Maria in Shepparton. She has Senile Dementia. Tonight we’ll talk about your poem. I ‘tuck her in’ every night! Regards Robyn Youl
Thanks so much for your various comments. I never expected to get any, so it is a pleasant surprise!