The Willie Wagtail is Australia’s best-loved and best-known fantail. And that tail wags constantly — side to side — as its owner scurries across the lawn seeking insects for a snack. Wagtails don’t mind us humans, but aggressively defend their own territories against feathered interlopers. You can tell the wagtail by its call that’s heard night and day; it sounds like “sweet-pretty-creature”.
Willie Wagtail
Sweet pretty creature,
sweet pretty creature,
that’s the sound of your call.
Sweet pretty creature,
sweet pretty creature,
the sweetest call of all.
Sweet pretty creature,
sweet pretty feature,
we love your wagging walk.
Sweet pretty creature,
sweet pretty creature,
if only you could talk.
Curious clothes
Cygnet’s singlets
are very white;
when they shrink
they’re very tight.
Do spiders were suspenders?
I think they really do.
They’re made of red elastic
in sizes 1 and 2.
TUCKER TIME
“The fires were bad,
“I was very scared,”
The wombat said
To the kangaroo.
“I had to hop
“Ahead of the flames,”
The kanga said,
“But I got out too.”
“I got help from
“A human being,”
The wombat said
To the kangaroo.
“So did I, mate!”
The kangaroo smiled.
“I’m glad they knew
“What they had to do!”
Australian Children’s Poetry 