A distant fire sends smoke signals
billowing higher on high.
A haze of soot from burning grass
soon sensed by those nearby.
Flame-tongues slurp-up oxygen,
cackling, crackling in the dry.
Up-wind is where it’s best to flee,
where birds and insects fly.
Smoke Signals by Celia Berrell
Poem inspired by April picture prompt titled MY PA, THE BUSHFIRE AND ME by Tim Ide
Interviewer:
“Where nature takes its toll
the ground is cracked and dry,
folks are found far and few;
one need not wonder why.
In this wild wilderness
some creatures won’t survive.
Today I have a special guest
who’s very much alive”.
Interviewer:
“Thank you Miss Tamara
for taking time to talk.
I see your busy tongue
complete with fancy fork.”
Miss Tamara:
“Oh, it’s such a marvel
which serves me very well.
When I flick it as you see
that’s how snakes can smell.
There’s lots of different scents
I need to know about;
a nifty piece of kit
I couldn’t do without.
As for my fancy fork
so worthy of attention,
it helps me find my food
and works in three-dimension!”
Interviewer:
“It gets so very hot
and cold in winter too.
How do you survive out here
and stay as good as new?”
Miss Tamara:
“I hunt before the heat
becomes too much to bear,
then I seek some shade
a quiet, comfy lair.
Lots of cracks and burrows
have holes so cool and deep.
They shield me from the sun
and make a place to sleep
Come winter, I turn dark
and bask in sun by day.
Come summer, I turn light
so heat reflects away”.
Interviewer:
“There’s little here to eat
and if that’s the case,
where’s your favourite food
in such a lonely place?”
Miss Tamara:
“I can trace a scent
when I poke around,
checking holes and burrows
where native rats are found.
I know just where to look,
where a rat should be
and if I’m very clever
there’s one for lunch or tea!”
Interviewer:
“What about the venom?
There’s been a lot of hype
about its lethal strength,
with serpents of your type.”
Miss Tamara:
“I am totally toxic
as Inland Taipans are.
Way above the scale
most potent snake by far!
But I’d like to add
a word in my defence.
I am awfully shy
and have a lot of sense.“
Interviewer:
“We’ve had a lovely chat,
so far from anywhere.
Perhaps a parting thought
that you’d like to share?”
Miss Tamara:
“I’d rather slip away
to hide and dodge a fight
but if I’m teased or stirred
I will react and bite.
I’m not to be upset.
Do not torment or touch.
Just leave me on my way
and thank you very much!”
Interviewer:
“Without another word
she quickly slides away,
blending into wilderness
to face what comes her way.
The deadliest of snakes
but calm and very measured.
My talk with Miss Tamara
is something to be treasured.”
Miss Tamara by Edwina Smith
Image from Pixabay
With bushfires on the horizon we need to move the stock
The family mounted ready, to drive them near the house block
They are our prized and loved possessions, and represent our life
Let’s pray the winds don’t change and cause us any strife.
Homeward Bound by Frankie Rose
Poem inspired by April Picture Prompt – MY PA, THE BUSHFIRE AND ME by Tim Ide
I miss a certain buzzing
from a certain bee,
He is a tiny little thing
who used to visit me.
I’m not sure when it happened
but one day he was gone,
He also took his friends with him
I hope they won’t be long.
Without him, I feel lonely
My flowers miss him too,
It’s too quiet with no buzzing
My garden seems quite blue.
The daffodils need him back
to pollinate them all,
And the crocuses and daisies
They seem to droop and fall.
We need our little bee friend
and all his mates as well,
Or our gardens will disappear
How quickly, we can’t tell.
The Bee who Buzzed Off by Erica Chester
Image from Pixabay
Easter Sunday is for you and me
Because Jesus rose to set us free
To give us new life filled with hope
His faithful love to help us cope
A fresh start with a joyful prayer
From a heart of peace that shows care
Cracking your chocolate egg open wide
Remember to look for new beginnings inside!
Image from Pixabay
If I could climb a rainbow
as it arched above, so high,
I’d gather all the colours,
and wind them through the sky.
I’d plait them into ribbons,
craft garlands for my hair,
toss banners into the breeze,
to ripple through the air.
I’d trim the clouds with scarlet
and lace the wind with green,
turn sparkles into raindrops
scatter sunbeams’ golden gleam.
And when I’d skipped and leapt and run,
and danced my way around,
I’d weave a sleigh of streamers
and slide down to the ground.
Image from Pixabay
A beautiful tale
Hydrangeas and lush forests
Blue and green lakes lie.
Twin Lakes by Class 4L – Townsville Grammar School North Shore
Image from Pexels
Teacher’s note: After reading a folk story about the Twin Lakes in Azores, we composed this poem as a class.
Get creative as we start the month with pranks and hoaxes for APRIL FOOLS’ DAY. Then we have chocolate, bunnies, bilbies and holiday themes, including celebrating the Christian EASTER for the first weekend in April.
Send your poetic inspirations to Linda Davidson:
ozchildrenspoetry@gmail.com
Date prompts include:
Picture Prompt:
Book cover: MY PA, THE BUSHFIRE AND ME by Tim Ide
The school yard is a pooches banquet
they rummage the playground for scraps
scuffs between feathers and fur
for a cold sausage roll
in wet paper wrap
a fritz sandwich
added cheese
means a
feast
After Lunch (Nonet) by Jeanie Axton
Image by Pexels
Australian Children’s Poetry 