An emu family crossed the road
not a single care in sight,
unconcerned about all the cars
and what could possibly be strife.
Halfway across all traffic stilled
the mob stopped and looked around
“Whats is all the fuss about?
We are on our way, Homeward bound!”
I saw a curious clock
built into a wall.
It made me very curious
seeing such a clock at all.
Now, I don’t know
what’s behind it,
and I don’t know
how they wind it!
I know it’s been up there
for many, many years,
And when I heard it chime,
it was music to my ears.
Teacher’s note: Discuss the adjective “curious” with students. It can mean (1) eager to know or learn something, as well as (2) strange or unusual.
We’ll run down swiftly to the beach
and jump into the sea,
where rolling waves will cool us down —
we’ll stay till half past three!
But when it’s time to pack and go,
you’ll hear us groaning then —
climbing up all those steps
will make us hot again!
I stare into the hollows
of his smiling, bony face
and I wonder how he looked
with all his other bits in place.
Was he beautiful or ugly?
Was he fat or was he lean?
Was he just a little weakling?
Was he built like a machine?
Did he have the smooth complexion
that belongs to movie stars?
Was his face a mass of pimples
or of scary-looking scars?
The skeleton says nothing
but I’m judging from his grin
that he’s rather glad he’s free
from all that muscle, flesh and skin.
A small object of fate
Sits on a leaf of green dew
Hidden in his smallness.
Little red and black creature
Crawling along endless stems
Paths that lead overboard
Crossing over lines with tiny feet
Pattering towards safety.
In a safe blanket of grass and daisies
Hunting for a crumb of food
Or a bed untrodden by feet.
Illustration by Gemma Creegan
Roses drip their dewy secrets
The air is sweet and perfumed
With jasmine, sage and lavender.
Clouds merge to form laughter
Birds sing for the love of Spring
Blades of grass reach for the sky.
I glimpse a fairy in a hedge
Her face glows like moon shine
Reflecting the lilies on the pond.
Illustration by Gemma Creegan
If a Thesaurus
came before us
would it claw us?
Or even gnaw us,
as soon as it saw us?
Not really.
A Thesaurus is a book
stuffed full of words,
so it would probably
just ignore us.
(As published in The Dirigible Balloon)
This emu is fine,
obeying the sign,
doing no more than forty.
To run any faster
could spell disaster
and would be very naughty.
Teacher’s note: This photo was captured near Wilsons Promontory where many emus roam in the wild.
Good Evening,
I would like to take this opportunity to let you know we have found a new administrator for the Australian Children’s Poetry Website. Kerry Gittins will be taking over the site from Monday. I wish her all the best in this and look forwards to seeing where she takes this valuable and treasured resource.
I would like to thank you all for your support and words of encouragement in the five years I have been the administrator. I have had a number of regulars who have committed themselves to writing and helped keep the site going and thriving with contributions .
All the best to you all in your individual writing endeavours. Let us all keep writing to support Kerry in her new role to keep poetry and especially Australian Children’s Poetry alive.
Thank-you All
Regards
Jeanie Axton
Australian Children’s Poetry 