Words are weird
My shoe has a tongue
but can’t talk.
All it can do is walk.
My nose has a bridge
you can’t cross.
Which leaves me at a loss.
My eyes have pupils
you can’t teach.
What’s the purpose of each?
My ears have two drums
you can’t play.
What kind of drums are they?
What weird things words are —
they have too
many meanings by far!
James Aitchison
Grass Skirt
Kilt clan patterns
Mother’s hands twisting string for homemade
video to keep tradition strong
Once made from plants now plastic too
Scratching identity from legs to ankles
Calling out for head dress and for beads
Bare feet beating dance on earth
Sway and swish
Past, present and future steps
Given by my mother to say
You are grown
By June Perkins
Jan Turner-Jones 01/08/43 – 31/05/14 was an Australian Author and Poet, who lived in Brisbane and was a member of the Rockhampton Writers’ Club. She was, at various times, a bank clerk, photographer, actor, university student and social worker. She worked with Kath Walker (Oodgeroo Noonuccle) (q.v.) on Stradbroke Island whilst a student at the University of Queensland.
Jan was published in Australia and USA.
In her later years, Jan was a prolific creator of songs, plays and children’s literature.
Teacher Notes: By Jeanie Axton
This time of the year is a good opportunity to construct sporty shape poems. In SA we have our first AFL round this weekend and with my limited knowledge of rugby it looks like it’s started in NSW and Queensland.
Both the AFL and NRL offer many online resources for teachers.
Find below a link to the AFL Teaching and Learning Resources and a screen shot with suggestions for English. Also a link and screen shot to a NRL site re a Well Being unit for schools.
Dont forget to give girls who play footy and rugby a plug. Women’s football in the AFL is in its second season.
AFL link ( Yes number 5 is a poetry idea )
http://www.aflcommunityclub.com.au/index.php?id=1859
NRL link
https://www.teachstarter.com/teaching-resource/nrl-wellbeing-unit/
JR Poulter
A CASUAL PICK
It all began with a casual pick
by the man sitting opposite me
on the train home last night
at first hardly noticeable
it grew to be a performance
involving both nostrils
which was quite a sight
Some efforts were hard fought
and were flicked triumphantly
to a growing mound on the floor
while others more sizeable
were rolled into balls and
thrown high up into the air
before being lovingly placed
in a brown bread sandwich
All this wasn’t appreciated
by the other passengers
who were mostly aghast
but then their noses
began to twitch as well
and some surreptitiously
had a bit of a pick
and soon the whole carriage
was furiously picking away
And then the man’s head
started to shrink right
before there very eyes
and it soon began to
resemble a withered prune
so they all stopped picking
and felt a little bit silly
and went back to fiddling
with their new digital devices
or gazing out the train window
Glen Ewing
mailto:poemoftheday.jaxton@gmail.com
CAR SICK
Green
Our fast green car
Green world
Stomach churning
Head spinning
Spinning
The world turning
Upside down
Downside up
Around and around
Wheels rolling
Streets passing
Blurred buildings
Blurred faces
Blur blur blur
Ur…
Dad, stop!
I’m going to throw …
Too late.
Di Bates
Australian Children’s Poetry 