High Tea

Oh, what the heck

I’ve a rather long neck

But it’s useful for me

Because Devonshire tea

Is my favourite snack

So why would I hold back?

I reached it with ease

But avoided the teas

As the cups are too small

Or perhaps I’m too tall.

However, I’m grateful

For every plateful

You add to your menu

At this divine venue.

Billy went to the barber,

With a kiss-curl in his hair,

When the barber cut it off,

There was a budgie there!

The bells ring

(cling, clang)

Feet dance

(tippity tap)

Voices sing

(hip hooray)

Hands clap

(slap, slap)

The streets cheer:

‘The war is over!’

My curtains draw

(swish, swash)

My clock clicks

(tick, tock)

My tears slip

(drip, drop)

My heart aches

(crash-break)

My brother won’t come home.

The war is over.

The picture in the history book 

Caused me to take a second look.

Some boys were scaling up a wall;

It looked to me someone might fall!

The wall had windows: large ones too,

As schools built long ago can do.

These give the students lots of light

And so protect their precious sight.

The walls composed of solid brick,

Had helped these boys perform their trick,

With bricks protruding left and right,

Which hands could grip and hold on tight,

While feet found rest on bricks below,

Until again they’d upward go.

I could not tell how high they dared, 

But no boy looked especially scared.

Do schools allow such tricks today?

Expect to hear a swift “No way!”

Since if one child were ever harmed

Then parents would all be alarmed.

The school would feature in the news,

Including irate parents’ views.

These days we’re much more risk averse,

Some think that’s better, others worse.

Let’s make a promise 

                         (during the pandemic)

We promise we’ll unite

When danger’s in the air,

We’ll always do our part

And take that extra care.

We’ll do what Aussies do,

For others we’ll prepare,  

We will not be selfish —

We’ll keep our nation fair.

So let us not forget,

We Aussies give our best,

When we face any threat  

That puts us to the test.