Pushy Cat
Pushy cat
White and black
Head rubbing
Lap loving
Deep purr
Soft fur
Pushy cat
I love you back
Penny Szentkuti
Category Archives: Poem of the Day
A Tribute to “Trim” Matthew Flinders’ Cat
Leave a commentTrim
I’m a black cat
A special cat
A ship’s cat.
I was born on the Reliance in 1799.
Of all my mother’s kittens
I was the one most fine.
I’m a black cat
A special cat
A ship’s cat.
I have four snow-white paws
And a white star on my chest.
Of all the cats on board this ship
The sailors like me best.
I’m a black cat
A special cat
A ship’s cat.
When it’s time for dinner
I don’t eat with other cats.
I sit at table with the men.
I don’t care for rats.
I’m a black cat
A special cat
A ship’s cat.
I have a trusty friend
And Matthew Flinders is his name.
He has called me Trim.
I think together we’ll find fame.
I’m a black cat
A special cat
A ship’s cat.
Matthew is a clever man
He’s sailed all round this land.
He’s given it a name
And that’s Australia – how grand.
Perhaps you have a cat at home
Is it as fine as me?
Would it like to come aboard
And sail upon the sea?
With a black cat
A special cat
A ship’s cat.
Pat Simmons
Trim was a famous cat. Well worth a dedication poem.
A good adult read is the book by Bryce Courtney “Matthew Flinders’ Cat”
Here is a little more information on him:
- “Trim was the ship’s cat under the command of Matthew Flinders on voyages to circumnavigate and map the coastline of Australia from 1801 to 1803. He was therefore the first cat to circumnavigate Australia. Sadly, it seems he was stolen and eaten by hungry slaves. A statue to Trim was later erected, and he has been the subject of a number of works of literature. A statue sits on a window sill on the outside of the Sydney Library, in Sydney, Australia. The plaque on Trim’s statue reads
TO THE MEMORY OF TRIM
The best and most illustrious of his race
The most affectionate of friends,
faithful of servants,
and best of creatures
He made the tour of the globe, and a voyage to Australia,
which he circumnavigated, and was ever the
delight and pleasure of his fellow voyagers . . . .
“Written by Matthew Flinders in memory of his cat
Memorial donated by the North Shore Historical Society.”
A Fluffy Thermometer
Leave a commentA Fluffy Thermometer
There’s plenty of ways
to tell if the day is
too hot or cold
without being told.
You could try and catch
a fluffy pet cat
then watch and observe
to see how it’s curved.
When days are too hot
it’s likely as not
that cat’s all sprawled-out
in some shaded spot.
When researchers test
what temperature’s best
for comfort of cats
they find out these facts.
Those felines agree
that eighteen degrees
is purr-fectly warm
for cat’s furry form.
Then when it’s too cold
those pussycats fold
up cosy and still
to keep out the chill.
by Celia Berrell
While the weather is warming up in Australia, winter is well on its way in the northern hemisphere. Does that mean there will be more outside cats curled up when I go to visit? Living in the tropics, I think even eighteen degrees is decidedly chilly! What’s your purrfect temperature?
Scoot Scoot
Leave a commentScoot Scoot
Scoot Scoot
Said the scooter
Shining in the sun
Time for me
To have some fun
Zoom Zoom
Said the scooter
Rider and helmet ready
Today we go fast
But take it steady
Whoosh Whoosh
Said the scooter
Down the street
Feet on kickboard
Who can we beat?
Zip Zip
Said the scooter
What a fun day
Zooming along
Smiling all the way
Jump Jump
Said the scooter
Trying a trick
Up in the air
And down real quick
Ring Ring
Said the scooter
A loud ring of the bell
Turn and head back
All is well
Yawn Yawn
Said the scooter
I’ve had a big day
Time to go home
Slowly make my way
Shuffle Shuffle
Said the scooter
Trudging back to the shed
Time for scooters
To be in scooter bed
Snooze Snooze
Said the scooter
Snoring away
Dreaming of tomorrow
Another scooter day
by Jeanie Axton (my first poem ever in a published book)
The inspiration for Scoot Scoot was in restoring this old scooter I found in a second hand shop
This poem was included in “The Toy Chest” a novel Anthology from Prints Charming Books
Edited by Sally Odgers Published July 2017
I Can, I Can’t
Leave a commentI CAN, I CAN’T
I can, I can’t, the difference is
One tiny little letter
‘won’t use the “T”, or I will be
Worse off, instead of better
But if I say “I can, I can”
My confidence will soar
And hope will come my way because
I opened up its door
“I can, I can!” will make me brave
My thinking it will change
And pocketsful of obstacles
Will vanish down the drain!
And if I cultivate “I can”
“I can’t” will sound so weird
And soon I’ll wonder where they went
Those things that I once feared
Lenny McGoo © 2017
“Progression” with Teacher notes
Leave a commentProgression
She showed it
to her slavedriver
who saw the possibilities
He promoted slave Hannah
to supervise
the sawing team
Before,
hundreds pulled the immense stone block
on its log rollers
A team of twenty waited at the back
to grasp the log-load
when it had been run over
The back log had to be
hauled to the front
to be run over yet again
If only the stone could stay still
on the logs while they kept rolling
Clearly impossible. Hannah scowled
But a slice of log sawn from one end
would roll the same way
With a hole in the middle
supporting – well we’d call it an axle
and a second round piece from the log
On her model it worked perfectly
Wheels! Wooden wheels!
The first cart
Wheelbarrows, trains, cars, trucks
cogs, pulleys, clocks, machines
Life on earth would never be the same.
Virginia Lowe
Notes:
The Israelites or Jews were kept slaves by the Egyptians, so I’m imagining it was the same time as they built the pyramids – that’s why I called the slave Hannah, originally a Jewish name.
In fact it wasn’t the same time – the pyramids were built about 300 years before the Israelite’s turned up. But it makes a more interesting story. A very very old story.
I couldn’t think of any way to describe the axle apart from our word, but it’s a concept they wouldn’t have had. I’d like to hear if anyone can think of how the rod holding the two wheels together and on the ground, could be described otherwise.
The Jews escaped from Egypt with the help of Moses, who persuaded the king, Pharaoh, to let them go with the help of ten plagues. It is all there told in the Bible in the book Exodus, and is celebrated each year by the Jewish community as Passover.
Ideas:
Maths: Looking at shape make Pyramids with cardboard
Humanities: Research the logistics of the building of the Pyramids
Learn about Jewish history and culture
Music: “Let my people go” This includes images that will help in learning about
Jewish history
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkEmS3hWmmU
Art: Paint: Make a giant class cardboard pyramid and creatively decorate it
The Wrong Wheels
Leave a commentThe Wrong Wheels
When the humans were asleep
In nightgowns and nightcaps,
The midnight rat would creep inside
And feast upon their scraps.
The midnight rat was crafty,
The midnight rat was sly,
He’d always slink in shadows,
Unseen by human eyes.
But there was someone watching,
With eyes that gleamed in black,
The midnight rat could see him:
The cunning household cat.
The midnight rat was agile,
And cautious, quick and smart,
That cat could never catch the rat,
When the house was clothed in dark.
So the cat approached politely
And he bent down very low.
“Oh rapturous rat I love your work,
I do admire you so.
“But I would make a suggestion,
If I could be so bold.
A king like you should never dine
On scraps so soggy and cold.
“The humans have cake in the daytime,
And bread and scones and pies,
There’s so much good food in the daytime,
You wouldn’t believe your eyes.
“The only thing you really need,
Ask anyone who steals,
If you are going to make a getaway –
Is a brand new set of wheels.”
The rat told him to keep away
And ran off with his loot,
But then he started pondering
As he chewed on soggy fruit.
He was the Midnight Rat!
The cleverest rat by far!
It would be a snap for him
To build a speedy car.
And build away he did,
Though you may find it surprising,
The rat had made that car
By the time the sun was rising.
And he could smell the breakfast
And he didn’t stop to think,
The car whizzed straight inside
Faster than a blink.
And what a tale of glory!
What a momentous day,
The rat snatched a delectable haul
And was making his getaway.
But outside the car slowed
And the cat caught him with ease…
Instead of using tyres,
He had used four wheels of cheese.
As he watched them melting on the road
The rat knew we was done,
His greatest foe was not the cat
But that infernal sun.
The cat smiled a wicked grin,
“I never thought of that!
I think my favourite meal might be
Grilled cheese à la rat.”
By Kylie Covark
Car Sick
Leave a commentCAR 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.
© Dianne Bates
Poetry Prompt #42 “Wheels”
Leave a commentThank you for all the Fur, Feathers and Fins poetry. This week we change direction to the man made. The prompt is “Wheels”
Any wheel, Any where, Any time: kids love to move and wheels take them places.
Last week’s Thursday poem with teacher notes got 400 plus views which is excellent. Please continue to email out the link to this site to your connections with schools and universities etc
If your poem doesn’t get on during a prompt I will keep in a folder for gaps.
Looking forward to your contributions.
Please send to: poemoftheday.jaxton@gmail.com
Thankyou
Jeanie
An event coming up if you are in Sydney:
Dorothea Mackellar Poet’s New Memorial at Waverley Cemetery
On the 24th November, 2017, the Society of Women Writers of NSW, along with donors to the memorial, will gather in Waverley Cemetery at 6pm to ‘unveil’ the substantial marble plaque. This honours the poet, Dorothea Mackellar (1885-1968) with the 8 lines of her most famous stanza from her poem My Country, there for all to see in perpetuity. Her gravesite is close by the ’jewel sea’ of the Pacific Ocean she so lovingly describes.
If anyone does go please send me a photo.
Thankyou
And this weeks quote:
Amy Harmon is a best selling author who has currently written ten books
This Season
Leave a commentTHIS SEASON
The moon tonight is a marble,
perfect and white.
See it there
above the rows of trees
bare-limbed and angular
lifting hands
as if in prayer
in the valley
that continues forever.
Comes dawn and warmth for
the slumbering bed of seeds
laid in rows like soldiers,
mute, and obedient to the seasons.
Comes a drizzle of rain
and baby fingers unfold,
reach for the yellow hot goodness
of sun.
Comes the gardener
Who tends the struggling army
defends it against the enemy,
the battalions of flying and crawling insects
and the dryness of earth;
She sprays, hoes,
waits for the hostage stems to unfurl,
to stretch, to uncurl.
Comes the leaves,
the unfolding flowers, and then…
ah yes,
the plant ripe with fruit,
the scent of Eden in the air!
© Dianne Bates
Australian Children’s Poetry 