Vale Elizabeth II
A woman exemplifying
Honour and grace,
Whose long reign over us
Would embrace
Change such as no monarch
Had ever seen,
Yet always, in all ways
Our regal paragon, our beloved Queen. J.R.Poulter, 2022
“Bang!” by Jenny Erlanger
Leave a commentMy sister’s upset.
she’s beginning to fret.
Her giant balloon has just popped.
She’s weeping with grief,
but for me, what relief!
My hiccups have finally stopped.
“Tree Fog” by Louise McCarthy
Leave a commentIt’s a tall sailing-ship on the ocean,
Still, anchored, waiting – not to be broken –
Or smashed on rocks – run aground.
Or, imaginably, if I listen closely – beyond the hush –
Seawater claps the vessel’s hull and waves swoosh on the shore.
Sensible sea captain, dutiful crew, waits – no rush …
The sun is sinking, a gull calls, and the reef makes no score.
Explorers or pirates? We’ll see …
I write in my log book – a note to me –
“Tomorrow – build lighthouse for sea dogs.”
But in the morning, there is no sea, no ship and no fog.
“Farmyard Friends” by Penny Szentkuti
Leave a commentIt’s a tall sailing-ship on the ocean,
Still, anchored, waiting – not to be broken –
Or smashed on rocks – run aground.
Or, imaginably, if I listen closely – beyond the hush –
Seawater claps the vessel’s hull and waves swoosh on the shore.
Sensible sea captain, dutiful crew, waits – no rush …
The sun is sinking, a gull calls, and the reef makes no score.
Explorers or pirates? We’ll see …
I write in my log book – a note to me –
“Tomorrow – build lighthouse for sea dogs.”
But in the morning, there is no sea, no ship and no fog.
Inspired by a Farmyard Picture prompt
“Pet Wish” by Celia Berrell
Leave a commentOur neighbour has a little dog.
A cute white fluffy puppy.
It growls and howls both day and night.
Alone, it’s never happy
A well-loved dog is like a friend
who keeps us company.
We’ll both play games and go for walks.
That’s how it’s meant to be.
I wish our neighbour’s puppy-dog
was well-cared-for like that.
No time to spend with doggy friend …
then maybe get a cat?
“My Pet” by Louise Pocock
Leave a commentI beg my mum for my very own pet.
She winks at me and says, “you bet!”
But …
It must not purr
or have soft fur.
It must not bark
or like the park
No pets with a beak
that tweet (or shriek).
No pets that peak
or sneak or squeak.
It can’t have hair;
can’t need much care;
can’t be boring;
mind the flooring!
At the store I search until dark …
Mum’s going to love my new pet shark!
My Friend Has A Pet” by Stefan Nicholson
Leave a commentMy friend has a pet that he won as a bet. Sort of roundly square, with tufts of rough blue hair. It has no bottom. It has no top. All I can see is a middle, And that I believe is the lot. He calls it “Spit” but it does not know its name, Which is just as well I am told in haste, ‘cos it looks from both ends, just the same! It keeps one eye on its food in the big red shiny bowl But I always put it back on its face, in the hole. The other eye just stares at the stars in night’s sky. I swear that this is true, but I am more prone to lie. It is true that my friend has a pet. Part bird, part giraffe and flies a private jet. You must all believe that I could not possibly conceive In my wildest dreams, such a creature, That is calm, and cute, and soft, but sometimes . . . may also . . . eat you!
© Stefan Nicholson
Australian Children’s Poetry 