Category Archives: Poem of the Day

Super Swimmer by Monty Edwards

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Super Swimmer

 

Sammy the seal loves to swim in the sea.

He eats fish for breakfast and eats fish for tea.

He doesn’t much mind all their bones and their scales,

For he swallows them whole from their heads to their tails.

Then once he is full he is ready to rest

And a rock in the sun is the spot he likes best.

 

When Sammy is swimming a shark may glide past.

And that’s time for Sammy to move very fast!

For Sammy is smart and has more than a hunch

That a shark thinks a seal makes a rather nice lunch!

Since sharks have sharp teeth like the points on a saw,

They’re clearly a threat that no seal can ignore.

 

If sometimes you find him asleep on a beach,

Make sure that you keep yourself out of his reach,

For if you should rouse him and give him a fright

He may be upset and get ready to fight.

So better by far that you give him no cause,

Since though without fists, he has very strong jaws!

 

Monty Edwards

Monty said: I liked the alliterative possibilities of Sammy the seal for the opening line of the poem, but soon realised why I had chosen Sammy and not Sally. Not only are there seals in the area quite close to where I live, but also an opportunity shop run by Good Samaritan Industries as “Good Sammy’s” with a seal featured in their logo!

 

My Greens by Kristin Martin

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My Greens

 

There’s a broccoli in my wardrobe

and a cucumber by my bed.

Something green was on my pillow

but now it’s green goo on my head.

 

There are lettuce leaves by my mirror,

some snow peas in my drawer,

and I think I saw a brussel sprout

lurking behind my door.

 

I don’t know what they’re up to

or what any of this means.

But if I want my bedroom to myself

I’d better eat my greens.

 Kristin Martin

    Percy Possum by Katherine Gallagher

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    PERCY POSSUM

    Percy Possum

    swings his brush-tail,

    leaps from roof to roof

    on a goodnight-trail.

     

    He hunts for insects,

    a midnight feast –

    if he finds some eggs,

    he’ll really be pleased.

     

    The night is quiet,

    the stars are dim.

    He wishes they’d shine

    a bit brighter for him.

     

    Katherine Gallagher

     

     

     

    What the Smoke Says by Jessica Nelson

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    What the Smoke Says

     

    This smoke floats

    With light airy whispers:

    ‘Marshmallows,

    ‘Roast potatoes,

    ‘Billy tea,

    ‘Fun by the sea.’

    It points to the sweetest one

    Points at me.

     

    This smoke floats

    Heavy and dark,

    It billows and bellows:

    ‘Crisped leaves

    ‘And crimson sun

    ‘Embers are falling,

    ‘Fire is burning,

    ‘I’m your alarm,’

    It points with the wind,

    Says: ‘Time to flee.’

    Jessica Nelson

    Rose is Red and Violet’s all Blue by Ken Williams

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    Rose is red and Violet’s all blue

     

    Rose loved painting,

    Violet loved it too.

    Rose painted with red,

    Violet with blue.

     

    They crept out of bed,

    To paint in the night.

    But Mum came in,

    ‘Aaaagh!’ And got such a fright.

     

    ‘Sorry Mummy,’ said Rose, all red.

    ‘Sorry Mummy,’ said Violet, all blue.

    ‘It’s okay, my little monsters,

    ‘I know what to do.’

     

    Mum drew a big bath,

    And plopped them both in.

    Whooshed them round,

    And into a spin.

     

    The monsters spun round,

    Splished and splashed.

    Water whirled round,

    And both colours clashed.

     

    Now Violet wasn’t blue,

    And Rose was not red.

    ‘Yippeeee!’ they cried,

    ‘We’re purple instead!’

     

    Now Mum feeling faint,

    Took out some more paint.

    ‘Perhaps some white,

    Will fix them all right.’

     

    The water whooshed round,

    And down the sink.

    ‘Aaaagh!’ wailed mum,

    ‘My monsters are pink.’

     

    Nanna came in,

    with a towel so green.

    She scrubbed while she dried,

    Until they were clean.

     

    Not purple or pink,

    Or blue or red.

    But finally all green,

    And ready for bed.

    Ken Williams

    Anything by James Redmayne

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    Anything

     

    With your hand in mine, you can do anything.

    You can climb the stairs

    You can cross the road

    You can shuffle your feet through the soft warm sand to get to the edge of the sea.

     

    With your hand in mine, I would do anything.

    I would climb a mountain

    I would build a road

    I would swim all the oceans and rivers and lakes for you, my child

    And for me.

    James Redmayne

    James said: This was one that I bounced around for a while after my daughter first learned to climb the stairs in our home. The poetry prompt triggered me to dig it out and rework it a little.

    That Seal in New Zealand by Jeanie Axton

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    That seal in New Zealand

     

    That seal in New Zealand

    Decided to stay

    All the others seals

    they went away

     

    Time to migrate

    And swim a long lap

    That seal in New Zealand

    Took a long nap

     

    That seal in New Zealand

    Marina full of sun

    Thought an extended stay

    Was better fun

     

    No sharing of fish

    All wharf space she owns

    That seal in New Zealand

    Has found a new home

     

    She’s now very famous

    On the news worldwide

    That seal in New Zealand

    Takes it all in her stride

     

    Smiling and grunting

    A bit of a flap

    That seal in New Zealand

    Got a very good rap

     

    She rolled for the camera

    300 kilos of lard

    A grin for the lens

    Isn’t too hard

     

    Named “Owha” by locals

    She has stayed a year

    Missing her friends

    No! Not a tear

     

    That seal in New Zealand

    Intends to stay

    Loves her new country

    In the sun she will lay

    Jeanie Axton

    Jeanie said: I saw on the news a story about a seal who has stayed on at The Auckland’s Marina in New Zealand instead of migrating. I thought it a fun topic for a Seal poem.

    Stop, Rain, Stop! by Monty Edwards

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    Stop, rain, stop!

     

    Stop, rain, stop!

    Not another drop!

    My friends are here. They’ve come to play.

    We want to be outdoors today.

    Stop, rain, stop!

     

    Stop, rain, stop!

    Not another drop!

    We do not want our washing wet,

    But you make sure that’s what we get.

    Stop, rain, stop!

     

    Stop, rain, stop!

    Not another drop!

    You’ve been around for several hours:

    Look how you’re drowning all the flowers!

    Stop, rain, stop!

     

    Stop, rain, stop!

    Not another drop!

    Go help the farmer grow his wheat

    And give his stock green grass to eat.

    Stop, rain, stop!

     

    Drip . . . . . drip . . . . . . . . . . . . plop!

    At last, the final drop!

    Now we’ll get a flower display.

    Now the washing’s on its way.

    Now we can go out to play!

     

    Monty Edwards

    Monty says: The poem sets out to give voice to the dissatisfaction and frustration we often feel  when wet weather disrupts our plans – a common experience for both children and adults.

    I’d Rather be a Pirate by Jessica Nelson

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    I’d rather be a pirate

     

    ‘I don’t want to be a princess,’

    The Princess Carlie said.

    ‘I’ve no wish to grow my hair out long;

    I’ll use a rope instead.

    I’ve no need to use these glassware shoes;

    I’d rather wear my clogs,

    And don’t even get me started

    On what’s wrong with kissing frogs.

    If you really need a royal,

    You might try Gary Brown,

    He’d enjoy a regal job

    Complete with jewelled crown.

    I’d rather be a pirate,

    Sail a thousand seas;

    Swing gracefully in rigging

    Like an acrobat on trapeze.

    I’d rather have adventure

    Than an adoring crowd,

    So you’ll find me on the sea-ways,

    Belching very loud.

    Jessica Nelson

    Look At Me by Catherine Knapton

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    Look up at the tree, can you see a hole in the trunk?

    That could be my home, the place where I bunk

    A squirrel that’s me, sporting the most incredible, amazing fluffy tail

    It snaps over my head like an umbrella when it looks like it might hail

    I use it for balance and my sharp claws are to climb

    My teeth are big and chunky and they grow all the time

    I scamper around collecting seeds, nuts and lots of stuff

    And I hide them for winter when there is never enough

    If I am suddenly frightened like a statue, I freeze

    Then no-one will see me unless “OH NO” I accidentally sneeze

    Look at me. I am cute. Then why am I thought of as being a pest

    Rubbish I say. If I live in your garden you are truly blest