Author Archives: australianchildrenspoetry

Poem of the Day

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WINDOW SEAT

 

Just out the window seems to be

a better place for you and me.

There’s sunshine there

and giant slides …

and if you’ve brave

there’s dragon rides!

 

There’s trees to climb

that scrape the moon,

and monsters dance

in the lagoon,

and Bigfoots bounce

on trampolines,

and tigers sneak up

unforeseen

and strike like lightning

at their prey –

then lick them ’till

they’re licked away!

 

If only classrooms had lagoons

on sleepy Monday afternoons.

Bill Condon
  • Submitted in response to Poetry Prompt #4

poetry-prompt-4

Poem of the Day

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Mish and Mash

 

I love to cook a mish and mash

A pineapple avocado smash

Cranberry and potato soup

A pea and parsnip ice-cream scoop

A pepper zucchini chocolate slice

Special strawberry chilli rice

Pizza topped with jelly beans

Devil’s food cake served with greens.

I love to cook a mish and mash

Dinner’s done now – got to dash.

Jessica Nelson

Jessica said: Mish and Mash is my response to 2016 poetry prompt #45 (Food). This poem was inspired by the ‘cooking’ my siblings and I used to do as children, where any ingredients we could find were thrown together in the mixing bowl, with varied results.

poetry-prompt-45

 

 

Poem of the Day

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First day of school

 

I’ll soon be walking through that door,

I’ve waited all these years.

But nothing’s quite prepared me for

this sudden flood of tears.

I know that I will be OK,

I’ll take whatever comes,

as soon as I can get away

from all these weeping mums!

Jenny Erlanger

 

First published in “Hopscotch” (Jellibeanz Publications, 2011)

  • Submitted in response to Poetry Prompt #4

poetry-prompt-4

 

Poem of the Day

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Through my Window

 

Morning comes in through my window

making shadows on my wall

I can see the roses waving

I can hear the magpies call

In the street the dogs are barking

busy people start their day

I stay wrapped within my doona

till it’s time for me to play

Morning comes in through my window

beams of sunlight make me smile

Mummy’s calling me to breakfast

‘In a while, Mum. In a while’

Then I smell the crispy bacon,

maple syrup, pancakes, more.

Morning comes in through my window,

I go racing out the door.

 

Allan Cropper
  • Submitted in response to Poetry Prompt #6

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The Caterpillar’s Song by June Perkins

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caterpillarsongimustwaitfortransformation

 

 

  • Submitted in response to Poetry Prompt #5

poetry-prompt-5June said: I liked that the photograph prompt had creatures on it and it inspired me to think of what it must be like for a caterpillar to change its mode of transport when it transforms. I placed this poem over a photograph of a butterfly. I wanted something about the right length so the photograph and words could balance.  It is fun making poem/photograph creations. For playfulness I spelt the word travel out at the end of each line.

I took this photograph at the Botanical Gardens.

As for the last line, my teenage son recently was studying a Dylan Thomas poem so I thought it would be fun to echo some of the lines.

‘Do not go gently into that good night.’

Poem of the Day

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There’s a Rainbow in my Pocket

 

Inside the pocket of my shorts it’s dark and not too clean,

But you might just decipher the colours red and green.

There’s a length of string that’s red or faded nearly pink

A piece of a tangelo skin that’s sweeter than you think

A dandelion head there is, that’s rather sad and squashed

A blade of grass that’s all green now but changes when it’s washed

A toffee wrapper, blue as blue, that’s sticky-d up the dark

As well a stone of purplish-grey I found when in the park.

 

Rainbow colours but oh no, not the rainbow with its glow

Far too dirty, far too dank, it all needs cleaning to be frank.

 

Hard edges, cooling to the touch. I take it out and rub it clean

Angled just right toward the sun, its transparency is seen

In coloured bands breaks up the light,

and then stream through the colours bright

A wondrous pleasure to bestow

the prism bears its own rainbow

Virginia Lowe
  • Submitted in response to Poetry Prompt #3

poetry-prompt-3

 

 

 

 

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What Aesop’s tortoise might have taught us

 

I remember the race,

and the confident hare.

I remember the win.

But I really don’t care

for the moral that’s drawn from

that one-off affair.

 

The hare could have won

and if truth be told,

races are meant

for the fast and the bold.

But the rat race, the human race-

both leave me cold.

 

For racers don’t see

what is perfectly plain

to the slow and the steady –

all the living you gain

going at my pace

in the slow lane.

 

Kate O’Neil
  • Submitted in response to Poetry Prompt #5

poetry-prompt-5

Kate said: I initially planned to have the tortoise address the bird, but the poem had other plans. I remember as a child being annoyed by the way generalised moral pronouncements could be extracted from specific “one-off” anecdotes. This fable was a case in point. That idea took over.  Sorry bird. Maybe next time.

 

 

Measured Steps by JR Poulter

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Poem of the Day

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Hello dear Goose

Hello dear Goose, it’s time for tea

So please come over and sit with me

I have some cakes and a sticky bun

I think that we shall have some fun

Buster goat has brought some bread

And although he carried it on his head

With strawberry jam and Vegemite

I’m sure that it will taste alright

Thank you Duck, it does look sweet

I’m glad he didn’t use his feet!

 

Oh look dear Goose, the Man in the Moon

Do you think that we can go there soon?

Of course Duck dear, we both shall fly

Out of the night, into the sky

Just close your eyes and rest your head

And tuck your feet up in the bed

For when you dream the moon you’ll see

And the Man within shall give you tea!

 

Oh look dear Goose, it is the sun

Is he smiling down on everyone?

Or is his radiance just for me

For I am a good little duck you see?

Of course Duck dear, he shines for you

And all the other creatures too

He gives us light and makes us warm

And dries us out after a storm

Oh dear Goose, how very clever

I hope the sun shall shine forever!

 

Rose Roberts

 

  • Rose has written, illustrated and self published two books for children,  The Adventures of Duck and Goose and Another Adventure for Duck and Goose.  ‘Each ended with a little poem,’ said Rose.  ‘I have continued to write little poems about them.  Duck, Goose and others live with me on a little farm in Verona on the far south coast of NSW.’

 

Poem of the Day

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Mud

 

The sea gulls are in from the beaches,

Wheeling above the roof tops —

(Kiirr, kiirr, skreeik!

Such lovely voices they have) — or

On the grass in the park,

Like a flock of well-behaved cockies;

A brightly white grazing bird mass.

 

The gulls are in from the beaches.

Soon we’ll have some proper inclement weather;

Skies of storm-cloud, wind and rain howling, and

Perhaps if we are good,

LIGHTNING!

Enjoyable, memorable, coming with thunder,

Blustering unchallenged to skies east in elsewhere.

 

Soon it will be back to ordinary,

Water retreating to safety ‘neath lush green grass,

Or spread all wet and puddly on asphalt.

(What a way to go!)

Weather must be really bad to be really good.

I hate cold wet miserable gray glum old days to gloom, and

I hate mud, but

Squiddily, iddily, uddily, squd

Sometimes there are no times like those spent in mud,

But you need a steam-cleaning to be human again,

And a steam-cleaning’s fun;

So bring on the rain!

Bridh Hancock