Manatee Anarchy
By Bill Condon
There was once a well-mannered manatee,
who rarely indulged in profanity.
But when confronted with queues,
she blew every fuse
and swore with manic insanity.
Author Archives: australianchildrenspoetry
“Can you guess?” by Marque
Leave a commentCan You Guess?
Can you guess of whom I speak?
He has no claws and he has no beak.
No fangs nor feathers nor fleece nor fur.
And he won’t get upset if you don’t call him sir.
Whilst not renowned for being a mobster,
He crushes and eats many a lobster.
You’d probably part with your hard earned dollar
If I told you his body can change its colour.
In the encyclopedia me finds
There are over fifty different kinds.
Though not much bigger than your fist,
Don’t cross him off your friendship list.
The smartest of all invertebrates,
I proudly class him as one of my mates.
His legs aren’t long, but they number eight.
I think this creature something great.
I tell you of the octopus,
Who lives his life with minimal fuss.
Should one of his legs be gone without trace,
Another one grows back in its place.
Why do I like the octopus so?
He’s resourceful and quiet and not too slow.
But I think it’s his kindness which sets him apart.
I guess I’d be the same if I had three hearts.
“YoYo” by Marque
Leave a commentI had a little yoyo,
It travelled up and down;
Courtesy of a reel of string
I twirled it round and round.
Every day I walked the dog
and journeyed round the world.
I’d create a baby’s cradle
And make loop to loops unfurl.
I’d forward pass and go over the falls
And produce a man on a trapeze.
Then hop the fence and go around the corner,
Whilst the throwdown was done with ease.
On other days I might do the sleeper,
Skin the cat and reach for the moon.
Go into a time warp or gravity pull,
And then breakaway by noon.
Where is my little yoyo now?
It still twirls round and round.
A young lad bought it at my garage sale
And took it out of town.
“X-Ray” by Marque Dobrow
Leave a commentX-ray, X-ray, what do you see?
X-ray looking right through me.
Does it mean you see the truth?
More than simply bone and tooth?
X-ray, am I looking fine?
Or am I somewhat in decline?
X-ray, tell me, what’s the news?
Expound to me your point of view.
My body says I’m in good health.
My bank says likewise of my wealth.
X-ray please don’t spoil my day.
Tell me what you see I pray.
I hope you are in gentle mood.
Please reveal something good.
Show to me your photograph,
Allow me now the final laugh.
X-ray, what is this I see?
Can this be the real me?
For lurking deep beneath my skin,
You show, there lies, a skeleton.
“Killi Koala” by Katherine Gallagher
Leave a commentKilli Koala
Killi Koala
sleeps most of the day
on his mother’s back
as she scampers away
up and down eucalypts
the whole night through
finding special leaves
for them both to chew
©Katherine Gallagher
“In My Heart” by Kylie Covark
Leave a comment
There’s a thank you in my heart
That’s big enough to burst apart,
And bright enough to dim the stars,
And loud enough to hear from Mars,
And grand enough to meet a king,
And sweet enough for birds to sing.
There’s a thank you in my heart
So big, in fact, it’s off the chart.
But for those who risk it all,
My thank you still seems much too small.
“My Pet” by Louise Pocock
Leave a commentMy Pet
I beg my mum for my very own pet.
She winks at me and says “you bet!”
But – it must not purr
Or have soft fur.
It must not bark
Or like the park.
No pets with a beak
That tweet (or shriek).
No pets that peak
Or sneak or squeak.
It can’t have hair;
Can’t need much care;
Can’t be boring;
Mind the flooring!
At the store I search until dark…
Mum’s going to love my new pet shark!
“Valentines Day and all that nonsense” by James Aitchison
Leave a commentRoses are red,
Violets are blue,
Your nose is too big
And your feet are too.
Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
Your shoes always smell
Like elephant poo!
Roses are red,
Dandelions stink,
I think you belong
In the kitchen sink!
Will you please be
My Valentine?
Your answer is NO?
Well, maybe next time
“A Red Cross summer” by James Aitchison
Leave a commentA RED CROSS SUMMER
They’ve been to every war,
Defying guns, saving lives,
We’ve seen them everywhere.
The red cross on a field of white,
(The Swiss flag in reverse),
The Red Cross comes to save and serve,
Through bushfires, floods, and worse.
Where would we be without them
When hope is on the line?
The Red Cross — always there,
The Red Cross — yours and mine!
Teacher Notes
Take time to learn about the Red Cross. They have a rich history and have helped many people and groups in many different situations.
Here is a link to a film clip about the Red Cross in Australia
”It’s a good story”
Australian Children’s Poetry 