Author Archives: australianchildrenspoetry

“Food Flight”  by Celia Berrell

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Food Flight

 

Food

in zero gravity

creates

quite a calamity.

Crumbs

can float-off anywhere:

mingle

with your wafting hair;

up

your nose;

get

in your ears;

cause

choking, sneezing

itching

tears!

 

Tourists

will soon fly in space

expecting

snacks to be in place.

Marshmallows

can’t get up your nose.

At worst

they might mess-up your clothes.

If

thrown around

they’re

safe and fun.

Food-ball

cushions

tasting

yum!

 

First published in Double Helix (April 2017)

Reproduced with permission of CSIRO

www.doublehelix.csiro.au

 

https://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/stem-on-station/ditl_eating

“A Small Step to Normality” by Toni Newell

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A Small Step to Normality

 

It’s nice to see the children,

Playing in the park again,

Barriers and tape removed,

With groups of up to ten.

It’s nice to hear their laughter,

See them swinging on a swing,

Or sliding down a slide,

Only to climb back up again.

There’s a perception of normality,

Although it’s only a small part,

And watching on gives us hope,

That were’re making a good start.

“School Lore” by Katherine Gallagher

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School Lore

Every day shuffles answers –

no question likes to hurry.

Therefore animals talk freedom.

​*******  

Tall trees have a long way to blow.

In the park, birds sing for nothing.

Any road is a ribbon for writing on.

​*******

Mermaids fly the art of oceans.

Every field-mouse has a nose

making tigers look dangerous.

​*******

Most spiders like to spin and spin,

hence their days are tidy.

Though they turn corners at an angle,

they travel with their eyes open.

©Katherine Gallagher

“Painting-time” by Katherine Gallagher

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I like to paint magpies

that I can see

when they’re warbling away

in our willow tree.

 

I like to paint my Platypus

and my favourite toys,

Trixie Tinder, Red Rocket

and the Rocket Boys.

 

I like to paint my family

especially my Mum

when she’s home from work

and my brother’s on his drum.

 

©Katherine Gallagher

“Rain Sings” by J.R. Poulter

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“I AM WHAT I PAINT” by James Aitchison

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I AM WHAT I PAINT
From my brain to my fingers,
Then my fingers to the brush,
Sometimes painting slowly,
Sometimes in a rush.
My thoughts go down my arm,
They burst out fresh and free.
For what I paint is what I am,
It’s me there you can see.
My soul is there in every stroke,
In every single splash,
In every single colour,
In every dab and dash.
I hope you like my paintings,
Each and every one,
My pictures have a lot to say
When finally they’re done!
 
                                  James Aitchison
 

“Autumn” by Margaret Pearce

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The sunlight glints across the grass

Touched by frost to a white old age

Of sober tints that will not last.

Soon the mist and shadows will slowly fade

And winter’s cloak will drop again

For one last glimpse of summer’s glory

At the beginning of an autumn morning.

 

 

©

Margaret Pearce

 

“Autumn Song” by Monty Edwards

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Sing a song of autumn leaves

Dancing on a gentle breeze:

Twisting, turning, left and right,

Disappearing out of sight:

Some with partners, some alone,

Destinations quite unknown,

But once gathered in a heap.

Those left breathless fall asleep.

“Falling Leaves” by Margaret Brazzale

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“The Teacher“ by Helen Katz

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She works alone upon her screen

With Leyla on her lap

Both teaching kids and counselling

Her cat content to nap.

 

The teacher works for hours on end

For students one and all

She sets them work and talks to them

When on a conference call.

 

With Leyla purring on her knee

She works upon her screen

And counsels kids who need her help

When life at home is mean.

 

Her students do their best for her

They know their teacher’s worth,

Her diligence and loving care

The best teacher on earth.

 

So soon when they are back at school

And once again a team

The days when they all worked on line

Will just seem like a dream.

Teleconference for work from home and self quarantine in COVID-19 pandemic concept. Online meeting that involved different professions with hands on laptop.