by Dianne Bates
I’m sick of waiting for the bathroom
with Sister Susie taking her time
Preening herself while I’m busting to go —
that has to be a crime.
If Francis Drake had to wait in a bathroom queue
instead of setting sail on the sea,
he might not be known at all today
simply because of a pee.
There was shelter –
An upturned water tank
With an entrance hole —
My secret space
In the brittle summer bush
Where I’d hide,
Dark and bruised and splintered.
In those childhood days
I was an outlaw of sorts,
Travelling alone,
Not fitting anywhere,
Listening to cicadas throbbing
With song,
Beyond words,
Wanting nothing
But the arc of my mother’s arms.
You’ll soon be walking through that door.
I can’t stay still a moment more.
I’m racing up and down the floor.
Can’t wait to say hello!
I’m here again with teary eyes
as everybody hugs and cries.
The air is filled with sad goodbyes.
Can’t stand to see you go!
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.
By Teena Raffa-Mulligan
Santa had a problem for his suit no longer fit.
It was snug around the tummy. When he sat, his trousers split.
One bight and early morning, Mrs Santa said:
“My dear, I must tell you something that I read.
I love you roly-poly, I love you as you are,
but if you took a health test you wouldn’t get a star.
It’s really most important to have a healthy heart
and if you want a long life, it’s not too late to start.”
Santa called in at the health club—the trainer checked him out.
She said: “We’ll plan a program that will work without a doubt.”
She booked him in for workouts three times every week,
then talked about his diet and told him what to eat.
He ate lots of fruit and vegies, chose grilled instead of fried
for every single main meal, with salads on the side.
He said no to morning tea cakes and had carrot sticks instead.
Whenever offered sweet treats, he firmly shook his head.
Santa also started walking quite early in the day
and soon those extra kilos began to melt away.
He said: “I feel fantastic, this year will be a breeze.
I’ll deliver all those presents without the slightest wheeze.
I won’t get stuck in chimneys or struggle up steep stairs
or stop to have a rest whenever I see chairs.”
Then on Christmas Eve, a problem as Santa dressed to leave.
His suit no longer fit him except for length of sleeve.
His top was loose and baggy where tight it was before,
and when he pulled his trousers up, they slid down to the floor.
He looked at Mrs Santa. “Whatever will we do?
Perhaps some safety pins? Could you sew a seam or two?
We need a quick solution for I really ought to go.
The children are all waiting and I can’t be late, you know.”
Mrs Santa nodded and tried to hide a smile.
“Thank goodness it’s late shopping. This will only take a while.”
So that’s why this year Santa won’t be wearing his red suit.
He’s got a brand new outfit. Mrs Santa thinks it’s cute.
It’s a bright red fleecy tracksuit for warmth in North Pole cold,
and a pair of sporty sneakers replacing boots of old.
For his head a woolly beanie instead of pom pom cap.
So if one Christmas evening you should glimpse a bearded chap
who looks a lot like Santa except he’s fit and trim,
don’t think that you’re mistaken, for yes, you’re right, it’s him!
In this recent Poetry Friday post, award-winning Australian author Sally Murphy urges teachers to share and enjoy classic and contemporary poetry with kids.
Poetry Friday: Tyger Tyger and the Importance of Pleasure
I’ve spent quite a bit of time lately writing and speaking about children’s poetry and the challenges of getting poetry in front of children, especially in Australia where very little children’s poetry is published. One of the things I keep saying is that kids need accessible poetry, and that we must be sure to include contemporary poetry in our offerings.
BUT, that doesn’t mean that I think we should only offer contemporary poetry, just as it isn’t necessary to only offer contemporary fiction. It’s just that when we offer classic poetry, we need to be sure that it is accessible to readers. One of the problems is that too often we offer poetry with difficult language and then too quickly ask what the poem means. My strong feeling is that, modern or classic, our first point of discussion for any poem should be about how it makes the reader feel, rather than about what it means. The pleasure, the physical response, the emotions aroused, the confusion are all so much for important than knowing exactly what it’s about (and a good poem should not be about just one thing anyway).
So, take for example this old favourite of mine:
Tyger Tyger
by William Blake
Tyger Tyger, burning bright,
In the forests of the night;
What immortal hand or eye,
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
In what distant deeps or skies.
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand, dare seize the fire?
(you can read the rest of the poem here)
Woah. There are some big words (immortal symmetry?). There are some very old words (thine, thy?). There is a word with funny spelling (tyger). And there are some words which don’t rhyme as we pronounce them today (eye/symmetry). And yet when I read it, I can imagine a beautiful, big, fearsome looking tiger, and can tingle with pleasure at the rhythm and flow of the lines. And, if I read it aloud to (or even better with) children, I give them the chance to share that pleasure. If instead, I print it out, give to to kids and ask them what it means, many eyes would glaze over, and hearts sink at the difficult language and the quest for a right answer.
My point? If you’re a teacher – don’t be scared to share poetry with kids. Share classics like this one. Share contemporary poetry too. But share it. Enjoy it. Savour it. If you must take it apart to look at meanings or poetic devices, do that AFTER you have had time to enjoy the poem. The child who has enjoyed the poem will find the seeking of meaning a whole lot easier.
(Original post re-blogged with permission)
I’d like to be (if you’ll agree)
Away today, Ms Hall,
Please carry on as if I’ve gone,
Like I’m not here at all.
And while you’re teaching nouns and verbs,
And all those tricky spelling words,
I’ll play computer games ‘til bell,
And eat a bag of crisps as well.
Then during Silent Reading, Miss,
I’ll decorate your hair,
With little silver metal clips,
And glued bits everywhere.
A touch of orange texta,
And a safety pin or two,
Will soon improve your love life, Miss,
Coz punk’s the look for you!
So Miss …
I’ll be away today,
I’m sure you’ll say
that that’s okay,
Just carry on
please teacher dear,
You’ll hardly notice
I’m not here.
I wear a silver collar, I’m a rather special goat.
Hooves firmly planted on the ground, but once I was afloat.
‘A goat afloat?’ I hear you say. It’s true. Ask Captain Cook.
Twice I’ve sailed around the world.
I’d like to write a book
Called
Memoirs of my life at sea
Jottings by a goat
The good the bad the ugly facts
Of life upon a boat
Well, all right, ships
Let’s get it right
Named
Dolphin and Endeavour
And with respect, I must say this,
I really hope I never set hoof again on either one.
Three years was long enough.
Giving milk for all that time quite frankly dears was tough.
Smelly sheep and smelly hens, smelly cattle too
Smelly cats and smelly dogs
And very smelly crew.
Snow and storms and slippery decks, fresh grass in short supply.
No other goats to chatter with to help the time pass by.
But now I’m home and quite well known
(My story’s in the press)
Enjoying my retirement, free from stormy seas and stress.
I wear a silver collar, I’m a rather special goat.
Hooves firmly planted on the ground, but once I was afloat.
If you have a copy of Lydia Pender’s poem ‘Hills’ (from Morning Magpie) or
any reproduction, also David Bateson’s ‘Imagination Circus’, would you
please immediately contact dibates@outlook.com
Here’s an article from The Guardian with links for watching some terrific short poetry readings for National Poetry Day – a project of Liz Brownlee, a National Poetry Day ambassador. People whose work has to do with light read poems about light. Thanks to Dianne Cook for this news item.
http://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2015/oct/07/a-firefighter-a-physicist-and-a-fire-dancer-read-poems-about-light
Winners of the 12th Kathleen Julia Bates Memorial Writing Competition have been announced. In case you missed the announcement, you can find the full results here.
Open to Australian secondary students under 19 years of age
Closing Date 11 December
Do you know a young person with a flair for writing poetry? This competition is being held in conjunction with the Somerset Celebration of Literature 2016. Its purpose is to encourage a love of writing poetry amongst secondary school students, to affirm it as a worthwhile literary pursuit and to stimulate excellence in writing. It also has the aim of inspiring and enriching youth literature. Category prizes of $300 plus flights to attend the festival. Full details here.
Where do you get ideas? How do you write a poem? Do poems have to rhyme? What makes it a poem if it doesn’t rhyme? Who publishes poetry? How do I become a children’s poet? What is your top tip for writers who want to write poetry for children?
These are among the myriad questions asked by writers who want to write poetry. How would you answer them? If you have a poetry pointer to share, email me at traffa-m@bigpond.net.au
Please keep submissions of poetry coming in for the Poem of the Day. Your submissions are much appreciated and I’m enjoying them immensely. If you’re a poet who is still thinking about whether to submit, please do! Poems are always needed and get posted so long as they are suitable for children (including teenagers). Previously published poems can be submitted provided you still retain copyright. Email traffa-m@bigpond.net.au
ACP is also happy to accept information about children’s poetry activities and events in Australia and overseas, poetry links, competitions, interviews with poets or publishers, poetry book reviews and relevant articles.
Australian Children’s Poetry 