Whoops!
William Hopper was a flea,
He hopped high as high could be.
Oh no William hopped too high –
On a pigeon passing by!
Pigeon flicked him off mid-air,
Splat went William everywhere
The Frogs’ Protest
“Frogs unite. It isn’t fair!
Come together everywhere!
Leave your puddles, ponds and pools:
Join the students in their schools!
Send their ears your loudest croak,
So they’ll learn it’s not a joke:
Giving a whole Year to Dogs!
What about we jolly Frogs?!”
A wonder dog, an under dog,
an over dog, a rover dog.
A round about and through dog.
I’ll-find-a-way-that’s-new dog.
I really think it’s time you knew-
If I’m your dog I’ll be with you.
There’s simply nothing you can do-
If you go out I’m coming too.
What have you been eating Brock?
That is causing quite a stink
Was it green and red?
Or yellow, brown and pink?
What have you been eating Brock?
The smell is really bad
Was it a piece of carrot cake?
You stole from snoring Dad
What have you been eating Brock?
The whole house it does reek
Was it from the garbage bin
That’s been sitting there all week
What have you been eating Brock?
Your gastric juices churning
One whiff and we will leave the room
Today not be returning
Brock, your plan is very clever
As you work your inner gut
To get your favourite seat at home
You whistle out your butt
Legs In The Air by Jeanie Axton
THIS MAN ABOUT TOWN
In an urban residence
Lurks that animal of leisure
Barks work is for peasants
Life is for pleasure.
A beautiful Border Collie
A good working breed
Sneers chasing sheep a folly
No way to get a feed.
Always complacent
And so very smug
The most perfect mate
To cut a rug.
Always so immaculate
So very well attired
Ready for a dinner date
Whenever required.
So pay for his food
For the man about town
Don’t ever be rude
Or bother to frown.
And his fans are all sighing
As the scandal breaks
And rumours are flying
Jagger’s actions are fakes.
Such lovely brown eyes
Swearing cupboard love
Not very wise
To believe the above.
Are you paying his board
And never judgemental
About what you can afford
Always so sentimental.
Charming and flirtatious
Our expert Romeo
So obliging and gracious
A well fed gigolo.
oooOooo
The Chinese New Year started.
It signalled with a clang.
It commenced with quite a clamour.
It started with a – cock-a-doodle-doo!
The rooster had returned,
From his year away.
A one year celebration;
A rest from Hen Chalet.
Farmer Mick was happy,
To have the rooster back.
But the precedent was set,
Thus the dog became quite slack.
So they made up an agreement;
To celebrate the dog year.
The dog would be the farmer,
And the farmer would be pooch!
Heel! Drop! Roll!
Fetch! Stay! Go!
Farmer Mick took orders.
The dog just watched him go.
He rounded up the cows,
Then he shepherded the sheep.
He chased the cat for hours,
Then he heard a car horn beep.
He chased that car right in to town.
He finally felt quite beat.
So he walked into the café;
He supposed he’d get a treat.
Just sit I’ll fetch a menu
Said the waiter with a grin.
So he did as he was told;
Sitting next to Farmer Flynn.
Soon other farmers followed.
The café was jam-packed.
They were growling ‘bout the new year
And the Chinese Zodiac.
Farmer Bill was livid:
I’m doing all the work;
I’m barking at the postman,
He thinks I’ve gone berserk.
Each week my dog gets pampered
At the Dapper Dog Salon.
Then he has a doggycino
And a meaty doggy scone.
Last year it was the rooster,
Next year it is the pig.
I’m going to join the circus;
Protested Farmer Twig.
The farmers kept on whining,
Some circling round and round.
Then suddenly they all stood up,
Alert to a command.
Each farmer raced off out the door
Of Café Tucker Box.
Obedient and good,
Pulling up their socks.
One year of celebration
For each one of their dogs.
They really are so faithful
Admitted Farmer Noggs.
It’s a dog’s life
Quick and alert,
sincere and intelligent.
Brings things home
or stays out late.
Gets into mischief,
Sniffs-out the new.
Bolts down food
until too full to move.
Admired for loyalty,
brave personality.
Always protecting
immediate family.
Laze-round all day,
work hard or learn tricks.
Dog or dog-person
you’ll find this list fits!
Chorus:
Poor ole Rooster. Head on the block
Poor ole Rooster. Time for the wok
This be the year of the Dog off the Box
Twenty Eighteen the Tuckerbox Rocks
The blue gums are still growing
The Murrumbidgee is still flowing
There’s a dog while he’s waiting
A howling success he’s creating
Beneath that sunny sky
Along the road to Gundagai
Goodbye Rooster. You’ve been cool.
Time to chuck it in. Tuckerbox Rule.
Pee Mail the Trees. Pee Mail the Ground.
A’ peein’ and a’ weein’ in The Year of the Hound
Ghostly Nobby just blinks a bleary eye
Team’s still bogged just out from Gundagai
Bowyang Yorke can’t believe his luck
A’dancing with Mabel ‘cos the team is stuck
Matilda is a waltzing to a hip-hop beat
She sure is nimble on her tiny feet
Singin’ in the shade of that Coolabah tree
Won’t you come a Waltzing Matilda with me?
This is the year when the Tuckerbox Rocks
Dance in your shoes. Prance in your sox
Dance with the Dog whose real dinki di
He’s a’rollin’ and a’rockin’ down Gundagai.
Australian Children’s Poetry 