| The Ballad of Molly Malloo: Part 1
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| In Stringybark Downs when the clover is lush,
And the swallow is high on the wing, When the blossom comes out and the bees hum about, You can smell the arrival of spring.
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| And springtime, as any young heifer would know,
Is time for the Stringybark Downs Country Show, Where they have, for those lucky enough to appear, The chance to be crowned as ‘The Cow of the Year’.
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| Out in the paddocks the air was abuzz;
A sense of excitement was growing, As word went about that the farmer was out To pick up the cows who were going.
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| “He’s bound to take us,” said a heifer called Jane,
“Our horns are a sight to behold.” “And surely he’ll see,” said her sister, Lorraine, “Our hides fairly shimmer like gold.”
Then a voice ‘cross the way said, “I’d love to go too.” ‘Twas the sweet gentle mooing of Molly Malloo. “But dear Molly,” they giggled, “he’ll never pick you.”
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| “Your horns are all wonky. Your hair is a mess.
You’re wide in the rump, you would have to confess. Your tail is all tatty and as for those thighs, Have you seen your reflection? They’re not the right size. To think you’d be chosen is simply absurd. Just face it,” they teased her, “YOU’RE FROM THE WRONG HERD!” Oh dear. Oh, my word.
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| Poor Molly Malloo. What was she to do?
Perhaps they were right. Perhaps it was true. She thought of The Show and her misery grew. So, she lay by the creek and she cried, “Moo-hoo-hoo.”
To be continued…
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Category Archives: Australian children’s poets
“Hibiscus In A Hurry“ by Celia Berrell
Leave a commentHibiscus In A Hurry
The hasty Hibiscus has burst into flower.
A glamorous beauty that seems a bit rude.
Its bloom only lasts about twenty four hours
before it will wilt to a shrivelling prude.
Its pistil’s so long, like it’s poked out its tongue
to grab the attention of passers-by.
The tip has a group of five stigmas it’s hung
to catch any pollen before it will die.
Along the pink sides of its long pistil style
the anthers hold pollen that’s yellow and bright.
Like sparks flying off from a Catherine-wheel
or sparkler lit on a dusky night.
With silky-soft petals in reds, white or gold
they need to attract pollinators for hire.
Impatient, imposing. They’re terribly bold.
Like flowery dragons all breathing fire.
by Celia Berrell
(a fancy-dress pollen party)
“Van-nana” by Sioban Timmer
4 CommentsVan – nana
A bunch of monkeys at the zoo
Devised a daring plan
To create a small diversion
And then steal the keeper’s van
They waited ‘til his back was turned
And swung behind the wheel
The keeper didn’t notice
‘Til he heard his tyres squeal
They headed for the fruit and veg
The customers all ran
As monkeys swiped bananas
And threw them in the van
They tore their way right through the town
With crazy monkey smiles
When the ‘nanas and the fuel ran out
They’d gone a hundred miles
The van was found much later
The policeman stroked his chin
And pondered how he should report
A Combi full of skins
“RIP the ones at the bottom“ by Kesta Fleming
1 CommentRIP the ones at the bottom
Bananas, bananas, bananas galore
Pushing and shoving to get through the door,
Bananas, bananas spew forth from the van
Their desperate escape all part of the plan.
Hand upon hand, fingers yellow and plump –
All starting to turn and condemned to the dump –
They have to get out … claw free while they’re able
And hope they get noticed then put on the table.
A mission to nourish and not go to waste,
They hurry and scramble, and yet in their haste
The ones at the bottom, forlorn and forgotten,
Are squashed by the weight and so doomed to go rotten.
“Banana on the bus” by James Aitchison
Leave a commentBanana on the bus
Bananas in a yellow stream
Have tumbled from the bus.
If you eat one and I do too,
There’s plenty there for us.
Bananas falling everywhere,
But where are all the bins?
If we eat ev’ry single one,
Where will we put their skins?
“Bananas” by Toni Newell
Leave a commentBananas
Who loves a banana?
I know I really do,
They’re tasty and filling,
Are very good for you.
Source of potassium,
Very easy to peel,
And if you are hungry,
They almost make a meal.
“Unbeatable Bananas” by Monty Edwards
1 CommentUnbeatable Bananas
Bananas are the perfect fruit –
I’m sure you must agree,
But even if they aren’t for you,
They surely are to me.
They beckon with their yellow skin
And brighten up my day,
A single zip and I am in
To eat without delay,
An orange on the other hand
Will take an age to peel;
Compare banana with its zip.
It’s really quite ideal.
Now you may think an apple best
And even eat its skin,
But you won’t want to eat it all
Since there’s a core within.
A juicy pear will be the same,
With core not nice to eat,
Bananas on the other hand
You can consume complete.
Not peaches though, or nectarines:
You soon will bite on stone!
But no banana breaks a tooth.
Bananas stand alone!
If no-one’s there but you!
You certainly will need a knife:
A strong and sharp one too!
Before you even get to eat
You’ll need to cut some more,
Since you won’t want that prickly skin
Or eat the central core.
One fruit surely lead the way:
It’s soft, it’s quick, it’s sweet.
No fruit is more convenient,
Banana’s hard to beat!
“Great Grannie’s birthday gift” by Jenny Erlanger
3 CommentsGreat Grannie’s birthday gift
Great Grannie has a letter
from a star who’s never met her
and who wishes her the very, very best.
It’s really quite uncanny
that she wrote to our Great Nannie
but I know Great Nannie’s feeling pretty blessed.
We’re amazed (and who could blame us)
that an idol who’s so famous
was prepared to take this break from her routine.
And although I feel no malice,
I am just a little jealous
that Great Grannie’s got a letter from the queen.
“Spring has Sprung” by Toni Newell
Leave a commentSpring Has Sprung
Spring has sprung,
Nests are made,
Vibrant colours,
Are on parade.
Birds are singing,
Their mating song,
Perfumed breeze,
Is swept along.
New growth,
Fragrant walks,
Grass growing,
On sidewalks.
Winter’s cold,
Now gone away,
The sun is warm,
A beautiful day.
Days are longer,
Lizard ‘Blue Tongue’,
Out of hibernation,
Spring has sprung.
Australian Children’s Poetry 