Mum said I shouldn’t worry
that I didn’t need the doc,
that I’d clear away the cobwebs
with a walk around the block
So I went and fetched my sneakers
and I did what I was told.
I grabbed my woollen beanie
and I stepped out in the cold.
The walk was quite refreshing.
quite a joy, I’d have to say
but it didn’t help at all
to make the cobwebs go away.
It might have been less trouble
if I’d gone into my room
and poked into the corners
of my ceiling with a broom.
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.
Small jars, tall jars, boxes too,
Zoe needs them for her zoo.
In the garden, in the sun
is where she finds Exhibit One.
A caterpillar munching leaves,
Zoe stoops, rolls up her sleeves
and carefully with finger tips
(just in case this critter nips)
places it inside a jar.
Pops on the lid.
He won’t get far.
Crouching in a damp dark spot,
armed with just a yogurt pot
she spots a tell-tale silver trail.
Exhibit Two, a friendly snail.
With trusty trowel she fills a jar
then doesn’t have to dig too far
before she spots a sudden squirm.
Exhibit Three, a wriggling worm.
Exhibit Four sits in a box,
wearing gloves and scarf and socks.
His cage says, ‘Dangerous Beware.
Please Don’t Feed This Teddy Bear.’
A tiny cubby made from sticks
houses numbers Five and Six.
A beetle and a millipede
curled up like a shiny bead.
Exhibit Seven’s tied to a tree.
He’s rather dangerous you see.
A dinosaur might stomp around
and squish those caged upon the ground.
She needs to find Exhibit Eight
who’s sitting calmly on the gate.
Zoe has to pull and tug
to capture this majestic slug.
Now who will be the final two
to join the gang at Zoe’s Zoo?
She has to build a great big pen
to house Exhibits Nine and Ten.
Her work is done.
She gives a shout.
‘Mum and Daddy, please come out.’
‘Gotcha!’
THE CARETAKERS
by Anne Bell
I went to the house,looking for a man to build a fence
knowing nothing of him,except that people said
he built good fences.
His garden warmed July’s cold hills,
but there was nobody there,
save a peacock,a scarecrow and a fine, grey mare.
I found nobody to build my fence,
but I think I’d like a man
who left his home to the care
of a peacock,a scarecrow and a fine, grey mare.
First published in The School Magazine.
Though pirates get by
with a patch on one eye
their lives out at sea can be grim.
No wonder they’re mean,
all the pirates I’ve seen
have clearly been missing a limb.
I now understand
all those hooks for a hand,
the clumping around on a peg.
To fit out their ships
for those plundering trips
must cost them an arm and a leg!
Poet and writer Stephen Whiteside answers some key questions about writing poetry. To find out more about Stephen and his work, visit his website here
1. Where do you get ideas?
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(at)bigpond.net.au
Competition deadline extended
Good news for those of you ran out of time to enter the Kathleen Julia Bates Memorial Writing Competition, due to close today. The deadline has been extended to August 15. First prize is $150 and every entrant will receive feedback from the judge, so it’s well worth entering your poem for children. Full details are here.
She stands tall,
Faithful,
Stoic and true.
White-washed,
And unwavering.
Carved basalt steps,
A salt encrusted,
Red door,
With a rusty lock.
Up curved, spiral stairs,
A French Fresnal,
Lens flashes,
Guiding ships,
Away from rocks,
And rips.
Bitter maelstrom,
Blustering galeforce.
To the Lighthouse!
The Lighthouse –
If only you knew,
You saved me
And my crew.
From morning to evening its scream can be heard,
a warning to all from this dive-bombing bird.
My brother’s too frightened to venture outdoors.
He’s already suffered a scratch from its claws
and Dad has to run from the house to the shed
his arms waving stupidly over his head.
It happens the moment we step out of place,
that flurry of feathers, that beak in the face.
So, hurry up babies and fly from your nest.
Your mother’s becoming a serial pest.
Australian Children’s Poetry 