Tag Archives: June Perkins
“Cupid has Struck” by June Perkins
Leave a commentCupid has Struck
Labrador protects duckling,
while cat cuddles fox,
that’s when you can tell
Cupid has struck.
A dog and elephant water play,
And chicken warms some puppies,
that’s when you can tell
Cupid has struck.
A dog howls with the owl
giraffe and ostrich nuzzle necks,
that’s when you can tell
Cupid has struck.
These dear ones
love beyond feather, furs and skin;
see friendship
Is more than luck.
Inspired by stories of unusual animal friendships and playful Jazz songs.
https://www.boredpanda.com/unusual-animal-friendships-interspecies
“Obligation of the Octopus” by Dr June Perkins
Leave a commentObligation of the Octopus
Arms with minds of their own.
A body that can morph through
openings.
Three hearts beating
boom, boom, boom
to the call of the
ocean.
Like escapologists
obligated when opportunity
presents itself
to freedom
beyond the tank.
Blue blood
Octopus of song.
Octopus of story.
Octopus of science.
By June Perkins
“Haystack” by June Perkins
Leave a commentHaystack
Look! Rats and the children run out from
their hiding places in the haystack to
dance in front of us in a merry line?
Who else do you think hides here?
Do you have a memory of haystacks or
artist’s haystacks?
(Perceval’s Angel)
Tumble down the Haystack
dreaming columns of Greece.
Tumble down the Haystack
? with childhood farming friends.
?
Tumble down the Haystack
? to horses and the cows.
Now,
climb up that artist’s Haystack
and tumble down again.
June Perkins?
‘Mermaids and Monster Trucks’ by June Perkins
Leave a commentMermaids and Monster Trucks
Monster Truck Boys, Monster Truck Boys
they love to drive their Monster trucks.
Mermaid Girls, Mermaid Girls
swimming with the dolphins
go the Mermaid Girls.
Mermaid Girls and Monster Truck Boys
Now they go to school
Could there be a duel?
Mermaid Girls watch the Monster Truck Boys.
Monster Truck Boys watch the Mermaid Girls.
Mermaid Girls, Mermaid Girls
super diving Mermaid Girls.
Monster Truck Boys, Monster Truck Boys
super driving monster trucks.
Mermaid Girls and Monster Truck Boys
They’re playing at magic school
which has a friendly rule.
Mermaid Girls can play with Monster Truck Boys.
Monster Truck Boys can play with Mermaid Girls.
Mermaid Girls talk to Monster Truck Boys.
Monster Truck Boys talk to Mermaid Girls.
Soon Monster Truck Boys
like swimming in the sea.
They’re jumping and bumping
in the sea.
Now Mermaid Girls
like driving monster trucks
as if they’re giant seals.
Mermaid Girls and Monster Truck Boys
They’re all cool
And they all love school
Their friendships are like jewels.
Monster Truck Boys, Monster Truck Boys
swimming with the dolphins
now they’re Mermaid Boys.
Mermaid Girls, Mermaid girls
Super driving, super dreaming
Now they’re Monster Truck Girls.
By June Perkins
EDUCATORS NOTE: This poem was originally written as a song, to be performed by Monster Truck Boys and Mermaid Girls in a prep to grade two composite classroom. It was to gently encourage them to try different games and not stereotype themselves but also so they could just have fun. I recommend to teachers who have the talent to write poems and songs for their pupils to do so as it enriches the classroom experience.
Mungalli by June Perkins
Leave a commentMungalli
Mungalli
We came
Sang, shared sisterhood
Brotherhood, unity, treasure hunts
Peace
Little
Things sing
To the heart
Picking a song’s tune
Guitar
Unity
In camp
Everywhere we walk
Glow worms in line
Night
By June Perkins
EDUCATORS NOTE: This poem was written to reflect on a mentoring camp held at Mungalli Falls. I wanted a very simple structure to convey this in just a few words and was inspired by, but not restricted by the cinquain form. A traditional cinquain, would be
- A subject noun – one word
- Two adjectives – two words
- Three verbs – three words
- A phrase – four words
- Return to the subject noun – one word
Instead I went
- Subject noun – one word (however, in verse 2 and 3 I put the subject noun at the end)
- Short phrase-two words,
- Longer phrase- three words (line 3,4, and line 2 closely linked)
- A phrase or a list of things- four words
- Overall feeling or the subject noun
I think it is important when working with set forms to be able to play with them and reinvent them to fit your purpose, whatever is best for the poem
About June: I am presently working on two sequels to my first full length collection, Magic Fish Dreaming, https://magicfishdreaming.com/ and dearly hope to find traditional publishers for them or to crowd fund them.
One is another collection of poetry for children filled with a sense of magical realism, fun and optimism, and the other is especially for mothers who might have fallen in love with the poetry of Magic Fish Dreaming, and will include both poetry and prose reflections on mothering and being mothered.
I have been keeping a poetry blog for several years, http://ripplepoetry.wordpress.com and am presently blogging on the topic of how poets play with words and images to make their poems https://ripplepoetry.wordpress.com/2018/05/30/poetatplay2/
‘Paper Boats’ by June Perkins
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Paper boats conjure dreams
of petals soaked by
scents of the
ocean.
Traveling boats
float in shadows
people
who have a simple hope
for happy lands,
but white markers sink
in sandy earth
marking graves of people
who cannot resist new germs.
‘Once watched paper boats,’
paternal grandfather says
in Vietnamese
but nobody understands
No translators here.
So shadow puppets dance
for petals
falling from kumquat boughs.
© June Perkins
https://ripplepoetry.files.wordpress.com/2018/04/paperboat.jpg
Beckoning Autumn by June Perkins
Leave a commentBeckoning Autumn
Come burnt orange
golden yellow and burnished red
leaves.
Bring us
relief from heat waves
and air conditioners.
Remember my light red jumper
and favourite boots
They’re out once more.
Loosen your leaves
to reveal sculptural trees
on the hillsides.
Let the fading days of summer
whisper listening to autumn jazz
with a Milo.
–
June Perkins
This is an Invitation Poem. Based on Barbara Esbensen’s book “A Celebration of Bees: Helping Children Write Poetry“, you write a poem like this when you want something to happen, like a season, event or a birthday party.
Haikus by June Perkins
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Storm touch
Hibiscus petals shake
Cyclone memory free
Hear the forest
Green tree frogs
Sing like rain