In the Land that Never Was things were very strange because
People who were living there used to have quite messy hair
But this no longer is the case but still it is the weirdest place
The folk there act peculiarly for they stand on all they want to see
Stand on anything they need stand on books they want to read
Stand on people when they talk like they’re the ground on which they walk
Stand on mirrors to brush their hair stand not sit upon the chair
The reason why they stand is clear it’s so that things won’t disappear
The people remember very well the day the goblin cast his spell
Saying “what they saw would go away only that on which they stood would stay”
He was thinking of the land for this is what he hope and planned
That all the folk would walk around looking only at the ground
One day a clever person thought “In this spell a lesson’s taught
Anything I wish to see must be stood upon by me”
He found a friend – pushed him down and stood on him which made him frown
Then shouted so that all could hear “LOOK HE DOESN’T DISAPPEAR”
Quickly then he went around throwing people on the ground
To show them how there was a way to change what the goblin had to say
Soon everyone in every street heard how things placed under their feet
Remained – even if they were looked upon whether pen or paper dog or swan
So now in the Land that Never Was though things are still quite strange because
They stand on everything that’s there and at least they don’t have messy hair!
Australian Children’s Poetry 