Ho Kookaburra

Ho Kookaburra

can’t sing a note –

all of his songs

get caught in his throat.

Ho Ho Ho Ho Ha Ha Ha,

it sounds easy but it’s not

as he scrapes and cackles, saws away,

it’s the only song he’s got.

It’s enough to make you laugh –

that’s the one thing he can do…

Try to copy him – Ho Ho Ho Ho

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ho Ho Ho Ho

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ho Ho Ho –

your sides will shake in two.

Katherine Gallagher

When I read Di Bates’ call for someone to look after this wonderful site showcasing Australian children’s poets and their work I must admit I hesitated before putting up my hand. I love writing and reading poetry for children so I knew the role would be more pleasure than work, and after the brilliant job Di has done of making the site a success, I wanted to see it continue.

But the responsibility of maintaining the high standard she’s set along the way felt a tad daunting. Fortunately enthusiasm won out and it’s my pleasure to say hello to you all. With your involvement I know we can continue to encourage children to enjoy poetry in all its forms and support each other in our writing activities. I look forward to receiving your contributions to the Poem of the Day page, along with any poetry information, articles and interviews you care to submit.

My email address is traffa-m@bigpond.net.au

Happy writing!

Teena

After investing so much time (and money) getting the Australian Children’s Poetry blog up and running, I have now decided to hand over the reins to Teena Raffa-Mulligan whom I’m convinced is just the right person for the job. Thank you, Teena, for doing so and good luck!

Thank you, too, for the many ACP supporters, especially my dearest husband, Bill Condon, a marvellous children’s poet (and author).  The hugest thanks of all goes to Helen Ross who has been amazing with all of the energy and enthusiasm she’s given to her job of creating the blog and continuing to support me with many technical glitches. Without her invaluable help the blog would not have picked up the nearly 65,000 hits it’s had in the past 12 months.

I am now going to focus on my own creative writing and to continue compiling and editing Buzz Words, the twice monthly online magazine I founded in 2006 for those in the children’s book industry. You can check out the Buzz Words’ blog on http://www.buzzwordsmagazine.com and if you send me an email to dibates@outlook.com, I will send you the latest issue to see if you’d like to subscribe.

Cheerio!

Di

Icy Fruit

On a stinking hot day in grade four,

our teacher read us a poem
about icy watermelon.

She tormented us with its words.

Sweat ran down

our backs—

we groaned, thinking

of the cold fruit in our hands,

the juice running down our chins.

Instead we sat cross-legged

on the itchy carpet floor,

gathering pins and needles.

Anna Jacobson

The Dugong

swish, swish, chomp

swish, swish, chomp

the gentle dugong

grazed slowly on the grass

fronds waving in the sea

water clear as glass

swish, swish, chomp

swish, swish, chomp

bristled snout aquiver

surrounded by this lunch

roughened lips are ready

to grasp and crunch and munch

swish, swish, chomp

swish, swish, chomp

six long minutes pass

tummy full of greens

the timid herbivore

sticks snout above to breathe

woooosh

“Is that a… ?”

“shhhhhhh!”

safe back underwater

grass plentiful to chew

this quiet dugong

finds a home in the Ningaloo

swish, swish, chomp

swish, swish, chomp

© Kristina Hoy

A hairy problem

If she hadn’t asked what

she should do with the knot

that was causing her terrible trouble

she’d be sitting right there

with a full head of hair

and not running her fingers through stubble.

I’d requested she sit

while I looked at the bit

that she said always tangles and frizzes

and I have to confess

I’ve created a mess.

I should never have picked up the scissors.

©  Jenny Erlanger

D  O     N O T    D I S T U R B

I feel impatient to begin my quest

My card is clutched tightly to my chest,

As I enter this place where ideas reside

This amazing space wherein worlds can collide:

The past, the present and future days –

In a profusion of factual and fictional ways

I feel a hunger, but I must explain

The urge I have is to feed my brain

With words and images that intertwine

To create an experience, uniquely mine:

Be it action, adventure, romance or mystery,

Fantastic or funny or all about history

I feel the need, the need to read

And in this library, I shall succeed

I will peruse those books that catch my eye

And I will choose just one to take aside

Then I warn you, in case you have not heard

I am longing to read – so do not disturb!

© Irene Buckler

LILLI BLACK SWAN

Lilli Black Swan

takes her time,

swims and dips

in water and slime.

She likes to glide

and is never topsy-turvy.

Is it just because

the water’s so curvy?

© Katherine Gallagher

After working on the Australian Children’s Poetry blog for almost 12 months, I am ready to relinquish the position due to my other work as Buzz Words’ editor (http://www.buzzwordsmagazine.com) and my own creative writing.

Thus I am seeking someone who would be enthusiastic about volunteering to take over administration of the blog. Basically this involves receiving poems by email and posting them onto the blog, also approving (or trashing spam) comments. You are also welcome to post information about competitions, articles and so on that pertain to Australian children’s poetry.

If you’re at all interested, please contact me at dibates@outlook.com