When you eat a seafood dish,
In it there may be some fish,
These fish must have left their schools,
Since they failed to learn school rules:
Rule One
“If you see a baited hook
Do not take a second look.
Even if the bait looks yummy,
It will never reach your tummy.
You will, on the other hand,
Reach a tummy on the land.”
Rule Two
“Do not swim into a net:
That’s as far as you will get,
You’ll be hauled up to the air
And you’ll wish you were not there.
Frozen first, then fried or grilled,
Soon a stomach you’ll have filled.”
Monty Edwards
I prise it from its woody nest,
examine it up close.
I never, ever would have guessed
a grub could look so gross!
It’s such an ugly, pudgy grub,
a truly horrid sight –
repulsive rolls of squishy flub
decked out in ghostly white.
The kookaburra up above
is getting itchy feet.
I know for sure she’d dearly love
to snaffle up this treat.
I’ll only have to turn around,
head back along the track,
and she’ll be swooping to the ground
to snatch her scrumptious snack.
The grub is wriggling back to bed
to tuck itself away.
The kookaburra cocks her head,
eyes fixed upon her prey.
No grub has ever hit my tum –
the notion makes me sick,
but Kookaburra’s thinking yum …
marshmallow on a stick!
Jenny Erlange
There’s a puppy in the paddock,
running all around,
sniffing all the flowers
and digging holes in the ground.
She’s making friends with little lambs,
and baby cows as well.
She chases all the birds she sees,
but she’s only being friendly; I can tell.
She likes to watch the butterflies,
flutter, flutter by,
and when she saw the great big horses,
she ran over just to say a friendly “Hi”.
She’s got a very waggly tail,
and a lovely little face.
She’s such a happy little puppy.
I’ll think we’ll call her ‘Grace’.
(Nikola Tesla 1856 – 1943)
Nikola loved his childhood cat
the sleek, majestic black-Macak.
A cat whose fur would click and spark
when days were chilly, dry and dark
as stroking black-Macak’s fur coat
could cause a tiny lightning bolt.
Nikola Tesla loved his cat
the sparkling, zappy black-Macak.
That static electricity
inspired young Tesla, cleverly
inventing things quite technical.
Especially electrical.
From neon lights and radios
to radar and remote controls.
Transistors, robots, X-ray zones
and AC power to our homes.
Tesla had a genius knack
that started through his cat Macak!
Leaving her mother
Abandonment.
Those big brown eyes
Enchantment.
That cute black nose
Blandishment.
Those watchful ears
Confident.
Untrained, unlearned
Impudent.
Too young for hygiene
Impenitent.
Puddles in carpet
Incontinent.
Midnight throwing up
Embarrassment.
Sharpening new teeth
Belligerent.
Loving all the world
Exuberant.
Everyone loves her
Benevolent.
Yelled out disasters
Embarrassment.
Much too young for
Chastisement.
Sixteen months for
Acknowledgement.
And promises of future
Accomplishment.
Or dreadful threat
Punishment.
Let’s go to Toowoomba,
The two of us by bus,
Toot, toot to Toowoomba,
We won’t cause any fuss.
Let’s all go to Weewaa,
We’ll ride there on a horse,
Whee-hee-hee to Weewaa,
I’ll bring tomato sauce.
Let’s all go to Bairnsdale,
Upon a fleecy sheep,
Baaaaaaa to Bairnsdale,
But please don’t fall asleep.
Let’s all go to Hawthorn,
We’ll ride a donkey there,
Hee-haw-haw to Hawthorn,
Without a single care.
Pushy cat
White and black
Head rubbing
Lap loving
Deep purr
Soft fur
Pushy cat
I love you back
Penny Szentkuti
Trim
I’m a black cat
A special cat
A ship’s cat.
I was born on the Reliance in 1799.
Of all my mother’s kittens
I was the one most fine.
I’m a black cat
A special cat
A ship’s cat.
I have four snow-white paws
And a white star on my chest.
Of all the cats on board this ship
The sailors like me best.
I’m a black cat
A special cat
A ship’s cat.
When it’s time for dinner
I don’t eat with other cats.
I sit at table with the men.
I don’t care for rats.
I’m a black cat
A special cat
A ship’s cat.
I have a trusty friend
And Matthew Flinders is his name.
He has called me Trim.
I think together we’ll find fame.
I’m a black cat
A special cat
A ship’s cat.
Matthew is a clever man
He’s sailed all round this land.
He’s given it a name
And that’s Australia – how grand.
Perhaps you have a cat at home
Is it as fine as me?
Would it like to come aboard
And sail upon the sea?
With a black cat
A special cat
A ship’s cat.
There’s plenty of ways
to tell if the day is
too hot or cold
without being told.
You could try and catch
a fluffy pet cat
then watch and observe
to see how it’s curved.
When days are too hot
it’s likely as not
that cat’s all sprawled-out
in some shaded spot.
When researchers test
what temperature’s best
for comfort of cats
they find out these facts.
Those felines agree
that eighteen degrees
is purr-fectly warm
for cat’s furry form.
Then when it’s too cold
those pussycats fold
up cosy and still
to keep out the chill.
Australian Children’s Poetry 