Poem of the Day

Leave a comment

Kevin Smith’s Dragon

 

You wouldn’t think, to look at him,

that Kevin Smith has a dragon for a pet –

he says he has –

keeps it in the garden shed

and feeds it chillies and onions and very hot curry –

he says he does –

Kevin is teaching the dragon tricks,

it will sit up and beg for Brussels sprouts –

he says it does.

Pets aren’t allowed at school,

but still, he’s going to bring it in one day –

he says he will –

but he’s waiting till it’s really tame,

and he has trained it to stop ripping with its dreadful claws,

and lashing people with its scaly tail,

and burning curtains with its fiery breath –

then he’s going to bring it in –

he says he is.

Anne Bell

First published in Celebrate (Triple D Books)

Poem of the Day

Leave a comment

Curiosities

I wonder if a spider looks

upon his own leg hair

And wonders what he’d look like if

he shaved his eight legs bare

Would he walk upon a cat walk…

Hmm – a spider on a cat?

I’m not sure that the fashion world

is quite ready for that

 

I wonder if a platypus

would contemplate his tail

How when he swims, behind him there’s

a paddle that will trail

Would he swap it for a tail that is

more pleasing to the eye?

Or opt to go without one – ‘Frogs

don’t have one, why should I?’

 

I wonder if an elephant

Regrets his long grey nose

At least when it is itchy he

can scratch it with his toes

Perhaps it gives him character

And makes him feel quite bold

It must be pretty messy though

when he contracts a cold

 

I wonder if a porcupine

would sharpen up his quills

They must be pretty handy when

comes time for filing bills

Just pay them at the counter and

then stick them on a spike

In alphabetic order, or

date order if you like

 

Do you think that dolphins ever

look at us and cry

Always stuck in water while we

have both land and sky

I think that they could play guitar

or even play the drums

If they were born with hands and fingers

with opposing thumbs

 

I wonder if most people would

Prefer a different life

Choose to live more wild and free

less worry and less strife

As busy as a beaver or

as happy as a clam

For me I’m quite content to be

the poet that I am

Allan Cropper

 

Poem of the Day

Leave a comment

D  O     N O T    D I S T U R B

 

I feel impatient to begin my quest

My card is clutched tightly to my chest,

As I enter this place where ideas reside

This amazing space wherein worlds can collide:

The past, the present and future days –

In a profusion of factual and fictional ways

 

I feel a hunger, but I must explain

The urge I have is to feed my brain

With words and images that intertwine

To create an experience, uniquely mine:

Be it action, adventure, romance or mystery,

Fantastic or funny or all about history

 

I feel the need, the need to read

And in this library, I shall succeed

I will peruse those books that catch my eye

And I will choose just one to take aside

Then I warn you, in case you have not heard

I am longing to read – so do not disturb!

 

Irene Buckler

Poem of the Day

Leave a comment

Ho Kookaburra

 

Ho Kookaburra

can’t sing a note –

 

all of his songs

get caught in his throat.

 

Ho Ho Ho Ho Ha Ha Ha,

it sounds easy but it’s not

 

as he scrapes and cackles, saws away,

it’s the only song he’s got.

 

It’s enough to make you laugh –

that’s the one thing he can do…

 

Try to copy him – Ho Ho Ho Ho

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ho Ho Ho Ho

 

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ho Ho Ho –

your sides will shake in two.

Katherine Gallagher

 

Poem of the Day

Leave a comment

If I were a kid

If I were a kid

instead of a child

I’d call Mum, Nanny

and I’d be wild!

 

A wild non-child

never keeping still

I’d nibble her handbag

then run for the hills.

 

If I were a kid

and not just a child

I’d call Dad, Billy

and I’d be wild!

 

A wild non-child

always butting in

I’d kick up a fuss,

and wear a silly grin

 

But I am what I am,

and that’s all I can be

except on those days

when it’s plain to see…

 

The child in the kid.

The kid in the child.

Each a little bit tame,

Each a little bit wild!

 Jane Williams

Big shoes to fill

Leave a comment

When I read Di Bates’ call for someone to look after this wonderful site showcasing Australian children’s poets and their work I must admit I hesitated before putting up my hand. I love writing and reading poetry for children so I knew the role would be more pleasure than work, and after the brilliant job Di has done of making the site a success, I wanted to see it continue.

But the responsibility of maintaining the high standard she’s set along the way felt a tad daunting. Fortunately enthusiasm won out and it’s my pleasure to say hello to you all. With your involvement I know we can continue to encourage children to enjoy poetry in all its forms and support each other in our writing activities. I look forward to receiving your contributions to the Poem of the Day page, along with any poetry information, articles and interviews you care to submit.

My email address is traffa-m@bigpond.net.au

Happy writing!

Teena

Poem of the Day

Leave a comment

If I were a kid

If I were a kid

instead of a child

I’d call Mum, Nanny

and I’d be wild!

 

A wild non-child

never keeping still

I’d nibble her handbag

then run for the hills.

 

If I were a kid

and not just a child

I’d call Dad, Billy

and I’d be wild!

 

A wild non-child

always butting in

I’d kick up a fuss,

and wear a silly grin

 

But I am what I am,

and that’s all I can be

except on those days

when it’s plain to see…

 

The child in the kid.

The kid in the child.

Each a little bit tame,

Each a little bit wild!

 Jane Williams

 

Farewell, Friends!

Leave a comment

After investing so much time (and money) getting the Australian Children’s Poetry blog up and running, I have now decided to hand over the reins to Teena Raffa-Mulligan whom I’m convinced is just the right person for the job. Thank you, Teena, for doing so and good luck!

Thank you, too, for the many ACP supporters, especially my dearest husband, Bill Condon, a marvellous children’s poet (and author).  The hugest thanks of all goes to Helen Ross who has been amazing with all of the energy and enthusiasm she’s given to her job of creating the blog and continuing to support me with many technical glitches. Without her invaluable help the blog would not have picked up the nearly 65,000 hits it’s had in the past 12 months.

I am now going to focus on my own creative writing and to continue compiling and editing Buzz Words, the twice monthly online magazine I founded in 2006 for those in the children’s book industry. You can check out the Buzz Words’ blog on http://www.buzzwordsmagazine.com and if you send me an email to dibates@outlook.com, I will send you the latest issue to see if you’d like to subscribe.

Cheerio!

Di

Poem of the Day

Leave a comment

Icy Fruit

 

On a stinking hot day in grade four,

our teacher read us a poem
about icy watermelon.

 

She tormented us with its words.

Sweat ran down

our backs—

 

we groaned, thinking

of the cold fruit in our hands,

the juice running down our chins.

 

Instead we sat cross-legged

on the itchy carpet floor,

gathering pins and needles.

 

Anna Jacobson

Poem of the Day

Leave a comment

The Dugong

 

swish, swish, chomp

swish, swish, chomp

 

the gentle dugong

grazed slowly on the grass

fronds waving in the sea

water clear as glass

 

swish, swish, chomp

swish, swish, chomp

 

bristled snout aquiver

surrounded by this lunch

roughened lips are ready

to grasp and crunch and munch

 

swish, swish, chomp

swish, swish, chomp

 

six long minutes pass

tummy full of greens

the timid herbivore

sticks snout above to breathe

 

woooosh

 

“Is that a… ?”

 

“shhhhhhh!”

 

safe back underwater

grass plentiful to chew

this quiet dugong

finds a home in the Ningaloo

 

swish, swish, chomp

swish, swish, chomp

 

© Kristina Hoy