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Seeking Stardom

 

There was a young man who once bought a guitar.

His goal was to strut on the stage as a star,

But when plucking a string,

It just broke with a “ping”,

So he gave up and didn’t get far.

 

Another young man bought a fine tennis racquet.

He dreamt of success that would make him a packet.

But his strokes were all wrong:

Balls he hit went too long.

When he saw any ball he’d just whack it!

 

 A third wanted fame with a bat, playing cricket.

He went for a six, but fell onto his wicket!

“Owzat!?” came the shout.

Then the umpire cried: “Out!”

So, for fame then, the bat was no ticket.

 

 Monty Edwards
  •  Submitted in response to Poetry Prompt #35

Poetry Prompt #35

Monty says: For would-be stars, the right equipment is only one ingredient for success.

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Clown Stuff

 

“Put that cauliflower in the colander,

not on your head, you fool!

It’s no time now for climbing the ladder

to the loft. Come on down

or you’ll be late for Clown-School.”

© Katherine Gallagher

Submitted in response to Poetry Prompt #36

Poetry Prompt #36

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I am geometrically perfect
I am several hues of blue
I quiver on a perfect arc
My ovals three times two.

But wait, there is another
Oval, perched out on a limb
Is it meant to be my head
On a body oh, so slim?

My head, if that is what it is
Is a different bluish blue
Am I really me, have I fluttered have I danced
Or am I but an icon, something digitally enhanced?

Meg Mackey

  • Submitted in response to Poetry Prompt #40

poetry-prompt40

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White Button, Red Button

 

If everything is going well,

And you can say, “I’m feeling swell!”

Then press the button on your right.

It’s cool and calm and painted white.

 

But if your life is in a mess,

The red button’s the one to press.

Sound the alarm, in just a tick,

We’ll all join in and “PANIC!”

Lynelle Kendall
  • Submitted in response to Poetry Prompt #9

Poetry Prompt#9

 

 

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The Corkscrew

 

Rattle, rattle, off we go.

At last we start the ride

and even now my stomach’s jumping

up and down inside.

Clackety – clack, we’re climbing up,

right up into the sky.

We’re at the top, I’m shaking now,

I know I’m going to die!

I grab the sides and close my eyes,

I’m really scared to death.

I scream, I yell the whole way down

till I run out of breath.

My eyes are sore, my mouth is dry,

my stomach leaps and churns.

My head is knocked from side to side

with all the twists and turns.

And all my little inside bits

are tangled like spaghetti.

I’m prickling almost everywhere,

my hands are cold and sweaty.

The carriage stops, and out I hop

and maybe I’m insane  …

But I can’t wait to join the line

and do that ride again!

 Jenny Erlanger

 

First published in “Giggles and Niggles”  (Haddington Press, 2007)

  •  Submitted in response to Poetry Prompt #39

poetry-prompt-39

Jenny said: This poem was inspired by the memory of my son’s reaction to his first roller coaster experience.  Having just told me that he’d felt like he was going to die, he begged me to let him have another ride.

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Today’s poem placed third in the 13th Kathleen Julia Bates Memorial Writing Competition.

Refugee Girl In the Playground

Watching you

I see a pale string

drifting       out the door

stretching back

to where your parents died

in a faraway war.

 

In class you hold books

as if they were gold

squeal with delight

when the computer comes on

and now you smile

clap your hands

your voice tap-dances with English

making it hum

in mysterious ways.

You eat your lunch slowly

every bite precious

eyes scanning faces

looking for a smile

a spark of welcome

making the day

learning so much

teaching too.

Duncan Richardson

 

 

 

 

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Today’s poem was runner up in the 13th Kathleen Julia Bates Memorial Writing Competition.

Looking at the Moon through Binoculars

 

Perfectly round

the moon comes into focus,

luminous, haloed,

almost close enough to touch.

In this lunar landscape

there are mountains, craters

highlands and valleys,

the Sea of Tranquility,

the Ocean of Storms.

Three days’ journey

catapulted through

the blackness of space

past comets, stars

and satellites to reach

my destination.

I’d land on the bright side

of the moon,

my boots sinking into

silvery dust, soft like snow,

I’d jump over moon rocks,

check for signs of life,

then I’d turn to face the earth,

blue and green and beautiful

and I would wave.

Vanessa Proctor

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Today’s poem was the winner of the 13th Kathleen Julia Bates Memorial Writing Competition.
ROAR

 

I stood at the glass barrier,

looking in.

One lion, facing away,

gnawed at a raw bone in the grass;

one lion stood

on the prow of the hill,

looking out.

 

This one was not cowed –

his maw opened

and his roar filled my ears

with a storm over sea,

with the wind on the plains,

with a rolling thunder

deep and wise and proud.

 

I shivered at the sound,

and I wondered

which of us

was the prisoner.

 Jaz Stutley

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Only One Moon

I really think Earth needs another Moon.

It isn’t fair that we should have just one.

Only one to grace our heaven –

Jupiter has sixty seven.

Wouldn’t sixty seven moons be fun?

 

It isn’t fair Earth only has one Moon.

Even little Mars has got a couple.

If we followed them in flight,

Tracked their paths throughout the night,

Our necks would stay extremely loose and supple.

 

And why is Earth’s moon simply called “The Moon”?

I ask you, could it ever be more flat?

Saturn’s blessed with mighty Titan,

Neptune’s orbited by Triton.

Then there’s Ganymede. How cool is that?

 

I’m sure that NASA’d like a second moon –

Another astro-challenge to be won.

When the news screamed “Man on Moon!”,

Before we fell into a swoon,

We’d pop the question quickly: “Right. Which one?”

 

Stephen Whiteside

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Space Traveler

 

I plan to build a spaceship soon and travel to the stars.

My Dad says: “Land first on the moon, then buy more fuel on Mars.”

But will the Martians sell me fuel if I’ve no shopper docket?

I’ll ask my mum to give me one and keep it in my pocket.

 

At school we learned the nearest star is still quite far away.

This means the food I’ll need to pack must last more than one day.

So I should fit a cupboard in where food can all be stored

And for my rest, it’s surely best, to put a bed on board.

 

My spaceship must have windows where I’ll watch the stars at night.

For sleeping, I’ll make shutters to keep out their dazzling light.

Since stars will be much closer as I travel out in space

There’d hardly be much sleeping with them shining in my face!

 

I’ve worked it out. Without a doubt, my spaceship will be large.

I ought to contact Fuel Watch too, to learn what Martians charge.

I think perhaps I need more time. There’s so much I must do,

But once my spaceship’s ready, then I’ll say goodbye to you.

 

Or would you like to help me build and join me for the ride?

You needn’t  answer straight away, there’s still time to decide,

But if you plan to come along, you too need food and bed.

So let’s  just ask our mums to take us to the zoo instead.

 

Monty Edwards

Submitted in response to Poetry Prompt #35Poetry Prompt #35

Monty says:  Space travel seems to fascinate many children and stimulate their imagination, long before they have any realistic concept of what it might involve.