“Hello,” said the puppy,
“exactly who are you?”
“Hmph!” said the joey,
“I’m a kangaroo!”
The puppy said, “I’m only new,
I think I’ll grow quite tall.”
The joey laughed. “Next to me,
you’ll always be quite small!”
Image from James Aitchison
Photo by Linda Davidson
I’d hate to be a hairbrush,
by the mirror, waiting there;
my bristles would get clogged up
with strands of yucky hair.
Everybody uses me,
no one seems to care;
red hair, black hair, grey hair too —
a technicolor scare!
Image from Pexels by RDNE Stock project
Girls play sport and so do boys.
Teams can make a lot of noise!
Girls may squeal and boys may shout,
But winning’s not all sport’s about!
If you win, you ‘ll feel elated.
Should you lose: a bit deflated.
Never cheat. It doesn’t pay.
Work to win next time you play.
Coaches teach you what to do.
Players can give tips to you.
Team sports make you friends and fit.
That’s the most important bit!
Image from Pexels by Pixabay
It looks like just
a ruined boat,
but what if we
could make it float?
We’d sail downriver
and out to sea,
with a yo-ho-ho,
my friends and me.
I’d be captain,
they’d be crew,
so they’d do what
I told them to.
We’d sail to China,
and then Peru,
on our own boat
on the ocean blue.
Old ship in Marlborough Sound, New Zealand. Photo by Ginette Pestana
Image by Linda Davidson
(in honour of Mother Tongue Day)
That’s what I mean!
The thingy, you know!
The Whatsit!
The Doodad!
That silly gizmo!
What do you mean
You don’t follow me?
The whatnot!
The doover!
That thingume!!
Am I the only one who speaks English around here?
Image from Pexels by Pavel Danilyuk
(in honour of Mother Tongue Day)
Remember remember the songs of your Grandma.
She sings and her words live in you.
Remember remember the gold of the old words
that carry her love that is true.
With chatter and clatter the kids in the school-room
are talking in words you don’t know.
Some words are for working, some words are for singing,
some words are like seeds that will grow.
The story of family is hiding in sayings
of mothers and fathers and aunts.
The melody, history, promise and poems
are magnets that stick to your heart.
Image from Pexels by Andrea Piacquadio
Roses are red, violets are blue,
but flowers aren’t sweet enough!
Only cannoli will win my heart —
forget the usual stuff!
Cannoli are creamy,
A yummy bouquet,
the perfect gift
on Valentine’s Day.
Cannoli on show in Rome. Photo by Ginette Pestana
Australian Children’s Poetry 