Mum has lost one hat,
two gloves,
one skirt and
one red shoe,
One blue blouse,
one yellow scarf,
and purple glasses too.
She’s blaming me,
Of course,
In pyjamas.
The truth is
It’s the naughty fruit;
They’ve really gone
Bananas!
Author Archives: australianchildrenspoetry
“No Drama Banana!” by Celia Berrell
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A dribble-free fruit
without stones, pips or seeds
whose skin will peel off
with the greatest of ease
revealing a pillar
of creamy-white pulp
which squashes to slime
that’s rewarding to gulp.
Potassium, Calcium
Vitamin C,
no trace of cholesterol,
it’s mostly fat-free.
You have to admit
that it’s simply no drama
to scoff your way through
any Queensland Banana!
”Cyrch a Chwta: a Challenge!” by James Aitchison
Leave a commentCyrch a Chwta: a Challenge!
My cat adores nothing more
Than salmon, whiting and flake.
And as for my Labrador,
He demands a juicy steak.
But they will not eat them raw —
I cook them, for heaven’s sake!
My parrot says I’m cuckoo.
What to do? I need a break.
James Aitchison
Cyrch a Chwta (pronounced kirch a choota), is a fun Welsh poetic form which has:
- An octave stanza (eight lines)
- Seven syllables per line
- A choice of two rhyming patterns: aaaaaaba or abababcb; the big trick is Line 7, which has to cross-rhyme internally with Line 8, on either the third, fourth or fifth syllable!
In my poem above, the schematic is:
xxxxxxa
xxxxxxb
xxxxxxa
xxxxxxb
xxxxxxa
xxxxxxb
xxxxxxc
xxcxxxb
“April Fool” by Virginia Lowe
Leave a commentApril Fool
I’m looking for Spring
as so many do
for blossom and bulbs
shy violets hold dew
What greets me is change
Winds, rain and shine
It’s now Autumn here
but there’s no call to pine
There are strawberry guavas,
feijoas and pears
very few flowers
but no one much cares
We’d rather our garden
is brimming with fruit
There’ll be time in October
For Flora’s fair loot!
“Fruit Fest” by Julie Cahill
Leave a commentFruit Fest
Lenny Lemon and Lucy Lime
were actors in a pantomime
Oscar Orange and Melon Slice
agreed that would be very nice
so rounded up their fruity friends
Abby Apple, Banana Bend
Granny Smith and Coconut
attended practice, prepared to strut
And when their play reached the stage
suitable for any age
they had forgotten one wee thing
there was no more fruit to hear them sing
no more apples to watch them prance
or watermelon to cheer their dance
So instead, they changed their theatre play
to play itself, that fruitful day.
”Ball Games” by Ron Marsh
Leave a commentBALL GAMES
My sister’s in a netball team,
Where she is goal attack.
I prefer my football
I often play full back.
So throughout season,
On Thursday nights we train,
And then head off on Saturday,
To try to win our games.
“Balls Galore!” by Monty Edwards
Leave a commentBalls Galore!
It all began when we were small:
(Perhaps the time we first could crawl);
We learnt to chase a rolling ball!
We picked the ball up with our hand;
We dropped it and would watch it land.
It bounced on floors, but plopped on sand.
In time, we knew most balls were round,
Though even egg-shaped balls we found:
You’d see them at a football ground.
Then see more balls in other sport:
Bowled or pitched; hit, thrown and caught;
Struck with strength and aimed with thought.
Kickers kick them seeking goals;
Golfers putt them into holes:
Different balls for different roles!
Sizes, shapes and colours many,
Balls that cost a pretty penny,
Pity those who haven’t any!
Anyone with friend and ball,
Whether it be large or small,
Never should be bored at all.
“The Auskicker” by Stephanie Boase
Leave a commentThe Auskicker (for Linclon)
Coloured bands around your wrist
Show you where to run.
Jerseys, boots and footy socks
Show the team you’re one.
Handball to your team mate,
Kick it if you can.
Try to get it through the gap
To the forward man.
And…
He takes a solid mark,
With the goal posts near!
Clap and cheer and pat his back
As the ball sails clear!
A goal, a goal!
A job well done!
The team all gather round
To celebrate his first goal kicked
And his joy in footy found!
“Handball Queen” by Chris Owen
Leave a commentHandball Queen
Amber Green. Handball Queen.
Quickest hands you’ve ever seen.
Recess time you’ll find her there,
prowling round the handball square.
Who will play her? Who will dare?
Daniel Drover. Year 4. Brave.
Odds unlikely. Chances grave.
Green strikes forehand, like a cobra.
Dipping shot bamboozles Drover.
Ricochet. Green wins. Game over.
Amber Green. Handball Queen.
Undefeated. Best there’s been.
Recess time she’s waiting there,
ruler of the handball square.
Who can beat her? Who will dare?
Matthew Lockett. Year 6. Bruiser.
Playground bully. Put-down user.
Green serves fast. A forehand rocket.
Lunging left he dives to block it.
Nose hits concrete. Goodbye Lockett.
Amber Green. Handball Queen.
Reigning champion. Win machine.
master of the handball square.
Who will face her? Who will dare?
Daisy Nguyen. Year 5. Plucky.
Daring. Fearless. Feeling lucky.
Green serves high and leaps to dunk it.
Nguyen pounces. Back hand. Sunk it.
Ball still bouncing. Green could flunk it.
Arm outstretched. A top-spin pass. Was it in?
There’s the siren. Back to class…
Daisy Nguyen. Lean and mean.
Undisputed Handball Queen.
After lunch you’ll find her there,
prowling round the handball square.
Who will verse her? Who will dare?
Chris Owen 2018
Australian Children’s Poetry 