Tag Archives: James Aitchison

The Disappearing Island by James Aitchison

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A sandy island in the Gulf
beckons us to make landfall.
A picnic here is lots of fun
while flocks of seabirds call.

The waters slapping round the shore
look inviting in the sun,
but listen to the boatman
when he warns everyone:

“Just step into that gentle tide —
up to your knees will do —
and a hungry tiger shark
will bite you clean in two!”

Best leave before the sun goes down,
that’s when the tide will rise
and cover every inch of ground
and catch you by surprise.

Going, going, almost GONE!  Sand Island off Karumba, Queensland.
Photo by Ginette Pestana

What a koala wants for Christmas by James Aitchison

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Dear Santa, here’s my list

of things I want this year:

Lots and lots of juicy leaves,

growing fresh and near.

Lots and lots of happy trees,

so I’ll always have a home,

and may the trees grow nice and tall,

so I’ll have room to roam.

Please don’t let men cut them down,

And destroy our precious bush — No!

For if the forests are destroyed,

I’ve nowhere else to go.

image from Pixabay by Michaela

Who wants to live here? by James Aitchison

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Now that’s what I call a house,
with lots of space for everyone.
Lots of stairs to run up and down,
and a room on the roof just for fun.
I could play my music really loud —
Mum and Dad wouldn’t hear it at all.
My siblings would be out of my way,
at the other end of a long, long hall.
But when it’s time for dinner,
there’s a problem I can see:
by the time I went down all that way
there’d be nothing left for me!

English stately home. Photo by Ginette Pestana

What shall we paint today? by James Aitchison

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With watercolours or oil,

the choice is up to you.

The canvas is totally blank,

just like a day that’s new.

Perhaps you’ll draw with pencil,

or sketch with pen and ink,

why not give charcoal a go —

then sit back and see what you think.

With every single brushstroke,

with every line you draw,

you’ll create an image

that’s unmistakably yours.

Famous painter Hans Heysen’s studio at Hahndorf, South Australia. Photo by Ginette Pestana

Swamped With Mystery! by James Aitchison

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Oh what a lovely swamp —

I can hear things going ker-plomp!

And even though it’s blue on top,

underneath it’s slop-slop-slop.

Birds swoop low, fish dive deep,

crocodiles open their eyes for a peek.

The trees haven’t seen their roots for years

and nothing is really what it appears.

It’s all very murky and muddy in there,

and who knows what will come up for air?

Undara, North Queensland. Photo by Ginette Pestana

My Dining Room by James Aitchison

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If I were a koala, 

how happy I would be.

I’d have one branch for dinner,

and another one for tea.

There’d be no washing up,

and nothing else to do:

so I’d curl up nice and high,

and sleep an hour or two.

Photo from Pexels by Flip Side

What I Found In The Bush by James Aitchison

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It was hiding in the bush,

where only eagles soar;

it was hiding in the bush,

but I could hear its distant roar.

At first I saw a stream,

it looked nothing much at all, 

then farther on I walked

and found the waterfall:

plunging over lava

the massive torrent fell,

tumbling to a chasm,

it held me in its spell.

And that was when I wondered

where else could I go,

and discover more surprises

than I could ever know!

Big Millstream Falls, Australia’s widest single drop waterfall, 5 km from Ravenshoe, North Queensland. Photo by Ginette Pestana

A Cinquain for a Train by James Aitchison

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railcars

silvery sleek

rattling, clicking, clacking

my very special adventure

outback

The Savannahlander train crossing a creek, North Queensland. Photo by Ginette Pestana

Teacher’s note: A cinquain is an unrhymed five-line poem that has a 2-4-6-8-2 syllable count.
Line 1: a one-word noun (the subject of the poem)
Line 2: two adjectives that describe Line 1
Line 3: a three-word verbal phrase that further describes Line 1
Line 4: a four-word phrase that shows a feeling toward Line 1
Line: a one-word noun synonymous with or related to Line 1
Writing cinquains is great fun for students.
(Note: “special” is a two-syllable word!)

Hop Right In! by James Aitchison

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(In Honour of National Bathtub Day October 7th)

In days of old,

out in the cold,

this is where you’d wash.

Rub-a-dub-dub,

in a public tub,

oh my golly gosh!

Hop right in,

up to your chin,

give your skin a sheen.

And let’s all hope

there’s enough soap

so everyone is clean.

Think of the queue

following you,

eager to get in too.

So don’t delay —

scrub right away —

I’m the one after you!

Street bath, Europe. Photo by Ginette Pestana

Gold by James Aitchison

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I found gold,

at the end of the day.

I found gold,

more than I could say.

I found gold, 

how I wished it would stay.

I found gold,

but it slipped away.

Sunset in the Gulf Country, North Queensland. Photo by Ginette Pestana