An Old English Tale by Kerry Gittins

Leave a comment

Have you seen a twirlblast so mickle in its size,

or pulled back straggly elflocks from getting in your eyes?

I wonder if you’ve chorked inside the house when rain has eased,

or been a slugabed all day just doing as you pleased?

Have you grubbled frantically and found the thing you lost,

or wolde for something day and night no matter what it cost?

Have you met a snollygloster? Don’t believe a word,

or heard a tarradiddle that you knew was just absurd? 

Have you been jargogled by the things that I have said?

Then better use more modern words to tell your tale instead!

Photo from Pexels by Pixabay

Minuscule Madness by James Aitchison

Leave a comment

I’ve been collecting tiny things,

like frozen fleas and freckles,

and a book a centimetre long

written by a man named Eccles.

In a jar I have a nano newt,

and a full stop in another,

and a dingbat’s DNA

I’m saving for my brother.

Tiny footprints made by mice,

fingerprints of butterflies,

a spare hair from a busy hare,

and seeds I found in apple pies.

The only question really is,

what will I do with all this stuff?

I’ve got so many tiny things,

my room’s not big enough!

Photo from Pexels by srini

Scots Speak by James Aitchison

Leave a comment

If a day dawns wet and bleak,

the Scots would call it dreich.

If blue sky and sun they saw,

then they’d say it’s braw.

Someone sly is sleekit,

if foolish they are glaikit.

When you shoogle, you shake,

if you mak, you make.

Muckle is big,

howk means to dig.

When you keenie, you cry,

when you skelp, you rush by!

If you’re taking a peek,

you’re taking a keek.

When you’re cranky, you’re crabbit,

a wee beastie’s a rabbit.

Weesht means be quiet,

guid nicht is good night.

Your bahookie’s your bottom,

And yes, all Scots have got ’em.

Teacher’s note: “Dreich” has been voted by Scots as their favourite, most iconic Scots word.

Photo from Pexels by Pixabay

Halloween by Graham Seal

Leave a comment

Trick or treat!

Trick or treat!

Lots of ghouls along the street.

Some are vampires,

some are ghosts,

whatever monster scares the most!

They want lollies,

they’re really creepy,

until the little spooks get sleepy.

Then home to bed they disappear –

that’s Halloween until next year.

Graham Seal

Photo from Pexels by Daisy Anderson

Sweet and Scary by P.J. Rodriguez

Leave a comment

The end of October.
Day 30 plus one.
Chock-full of mystery.
Sweet, scary fun.

Hair-raising dress-ups
for haunting the streets.
Pumpkins with candles
and tricks paired with treats.

Parties and games.
Time with family and friends.
What’s it about?
Well, that sort of depends.

For some,
it’s a time to remember the dead –
with love in our hearts,
not with sadness or dread.

For others,
a chance to scare darkness away.
A Spirits, Ghosts, Ghoulies – Shove Off!
type of day.

Way in the past,
it meant bonfires and feasts,
and wearing disguises
to fool wicked beasts.

Now that’s all changed.
It’s an eve of delight.
It brings us together.
One weird, wondrous night.

Image from Pexels by Matheus Bertelli

All The Things by Liz Bennett

Leave a comment

When we’re asked what jobs we want
my friends and I like thinking big,
by imagining a future
doing ALL the things we dig.

I might be a figure skater,
and invent the flying car,
start a business selling cupcakes,
then become a football star!

Tess could be a brilliant doctor
(maybe operate on brains),
play the keyboard in a band, and
spend the weekend flying planes!

Jingyi wants to dig for fossils,
run a kitten shelter too,
show his skills at table tennis
and then join a hip-hop crew!

A detective scuba diver,
or an astronaut who sings….
what do you think YOU’D be doing
if you could do all the things?

Image from Pexels by Collin Guernsey

An Old Fashioned Recipe by L. McCarthy

Leave a comment

I found my mother’s old recipe for yo-yo biscuits,
I made myself a batch! They were so delicious.
The biscuit: fragile, delicate, custard powder yellow with decorative fork prints,
The icing: buttery smooth and pale pink to match the rosewater essence.

One biscuit each afternoon, and tea poured onto a dash of milk in a fine china cup!
After a week, the yo-yo’s had disappeared – I mean to say, they were all eaten up!
They were exactly like what my Mum used to bake –
They were first rate! But, I’d made a mistake…

So, I made another batch – the same again,
And put them all into a biscuit tin,
And brought them to my dear old neighbour –
Stayed for a cuppa – bergamot flavour.

When I got home I added a note –
At the end of the recipe, here’s what I wrote:
‘Put in a tin, and then visit someone.’
Exactly like what my mum would have done.

Self Esteem by James Aitchison

Leave a comment

Self-esteem is not just words,
it is the heart of you;
knowing that you’re special,
there’s nothing you can’t do.

It means you have a value,
A very unique worth;
There’s no one else quite like you,
Anywhere on earth.

You are a whole lot stronger
when you have self-esteem.
No challenge will be too big,
you’ll always dare to dream.

Self-esteem is yours to have,
forget what others say!
You have a priceless value    
every single day.

Image from Pexels by RDNE Stock project

Girl Power! by Linda Davidson

Leave a comment

I just love being a girl
And wearing my skirt to watch it twirl.
Do you like my hair long or short?
I can run fast and I’m good at sport!

I love to hang out with my friends.
We chat and giggle until the day ends.
We talk about music, birthday parties and clothes,
Pets, our families and the latest TV shows.

When I grow up I want to be a race-car driver,
Or maybe a nurse or deep-sea diver.
Dad says I can be anything I like,
So maybe a singer – holding a mike!

I’m smart, kind and funny too,
And strong and brave with lots to do.
I can also be soft and gentle like a flower.
I just love being a girl and having Girl Power!

Image from Pexels by Johannes Plenio

Dress Up by Pauline Cleary

Leave a comment

Boots and bags and belts and braces;
slip-on shoes without any laces
hats with feather, coats with cuffs;
stripey socks and velvet gloves.

Shiny waistcoats, tall top hats;
onesies, boxers, baseball caps;
bracelets, bangles, silver pearls
scarves in patterns; scarves in swirls.

Woolly jackets, pants with spots;
petticoats and purple socks;
Skirts with zippers, skirts that flair;
Shirts with circles; shirts with squares.

Choose an outfit; match a hat.
Strike a pose! This or that?
Choose to be whatever you please
Magic, mayhem, make believe!

Image from Pexels by Ksenia Chernaya