Category Archives: Australian children’s poets

“Friends” by Julie Cahill

Leave a comment

 

Wally Wombat found some food,
in a bowl all large and round.
Kangarilla Kangaroo was foraging on the ground.
The fires had taken all their grub,
the ashes burnt kanga’s toes.
And as the wombat gobbled nuts,
he felt the other’s woes.
‘Come and share,’ he called in Wombat,
a foreign tongue indeed.
But Kararilla saw him summon,
and hopped his way with speed.
It happened then, the grumpy dog
whose food was in HIS bowl . . .
He let the creatures
fill their bellies,
while kindness filled his soul.

“Hand in hand” by Marques Dobrow

Leave a comment

HAND IN HAND

Washing hands is very wise

Before you eat, or rub your eyes.

A smart way to avoid infection

Without the need for sharp injections.

 

Put warm water in the sink;

The use of soap is wise, I think.

Bid those germs “Auf wiedersehen”

As you wash them down the drain.

 

Underneath your fingernails

Is often where the dirt prevails.

In between your fingers too

Must be cleaned of gunk and goo.

 

Make the effort, take your time

To cleanse yourself of grease and grime.

When the time to stop commands,

Grab a towel and dry your hands.

 

Washing hands: it won’t take long;

It keeps you healthy, safe and strong.

If this task you’re undertaking,

It’s your hand I shall be shaking.

“Clean Hands” by J. R. Poulter

Leave a comment


“How to have hygienic hands“  by Celia Berrell

Leave a comment

How to have hygienic hands

 

Some harmful bugs

we’ve touched will hide

in crinkly creases,

moist or wide;

in crevices

and groovy spots

of which our hands

have quite a lot.

 

Make sure the soap

will never fail

to rummage under

fingernails.

And rub each

padded fingerprint

upon a palm

or handy dint.

 

Then soap and rub

each finger base –

those webby bits,

with fingers laced.

When rinsed and dried

our hands are ACE …

unless we touch

our nose and face!

 

https://www.newscientist.com/letter/mg24532690-100-handwashing-technique-more-important-than-time/

“Tornado Touchdown” by Julian Schirripa and Lisa McKibben

Leave a comment

“Friends” by Katherine Gallagher

Leave a comment

 

It was Zorba, the song that started us,

back there at our family’s in Carlton –

one foot forward and across, arms and shoulders linked.

Everyone could do it – all ages stepping out:

children with adults, those guys who said

they couldn’t dance – whole lines weaving

to the same steps, a homage to Theodorakis,

recently imprisoned for his music.

Songs that could sing on their own

with enough bouzoukis to quicken a city.

 

“Toilet Paper” by James Aitchison and “The Great Toilet Paper Chase” by Julie Cahill

Leave a comment

TOILET PAPER

 

Dunny roll, dunny roll,

Where art thou?

There’s none in the shops

Or anywhere now!

 

Dunny roll, dunny roll,

Such a shame!

Not a sheet in sight,

And we’re all to blame!

 

We can do without pies,

Yes, we can!

But toilet paper?

Oh man, oh man!

 

The Great Toilet Paper Chase

Old Mother Hubbard went to her cupboard
to fetch her poor dog a bone.
When she got there the cupboard was full
of loo rolls and tissues, alone.
‘Don’t look at me,’ said the dog, honestly,
‘I don’t shop, nor do I talk.’
He spotted his lead and at breakneck speed
asked to go for a walk.
As they passed the first store
a man burst through the door,
‘Best hurry before they run out.’
The dog tripped him up, being a pup,
and the man went down with a clout.
His plastic bags burst and rolls of loo paper
rolled into curbs; jumped the fence,
while the panicked folk snatched
and grabbed and bagged
the last of Australia’s sense.

 

 

“The Trendy Regaliceratops”  by Celia Berrell

Leave a comment

The Trendy Regaliceratops 

This leafy-loving herbivore

weighed a hefty ton or more.

Six metres long and bulky strong,

this dinosaur, we got so wrong!

 

His bony frill’s not meant as armour.

More, a snazzy lady-charmer!

Pretty as a peacock’s tail

in battle, it would surely fail.

 

Those horns above his nose and eyes

are such a trendy cute surprise.

Too flimsy for a fight to start

his fancy horns are body art!

 

A cousin of Triceratops

with colourful Canadian chops,

perhaps he was polite and coy

although he looked more like HELLBOY!

Celia Berrell

http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/43191/title/Spiky-Headed-Dino-Discovered/

“Tribe” by Sioban Timmer

Leave a comment

Tribe

There are many ways to find a friend

Smile, be kind and learn to bend

Ask questions, be sure to listen too

(Good friends will do the same for you).

 

Remember through the busy day

To check with them that they’re okay

Always try and be aware

That trouble halves, when it is shared.

 

When you find the ones, who get your vibe

Hold on tight – you found your tribe

The ones who know the total you

And love you, like you love them too.

“ The Sweetest Thing” by Toni Newell

Leave a comment

The sweetest thing,

I’ve ever known,

Is not wrapped in paper,

But chews a bone.

It doesn’t rot teeth,

But loves to lick,

Loves to play,

With balls or stick.

Not brightly coloured,

Nor sticky or gooey,

It’s soft and cuddly,

Not hard or chewy.

It gives us pleasure,

Over time,

Not just a mouthful,

A moment sublime.

It is a friend,

In many ways,

Not just a binge,

On upset days.

The sweetest thing,

Isn’t a chocolate log,

But I think we all know,

It is the humble dog.