I don’t know why I’ve got feet

when I could have had wheels,

for wheels go so much faster.

Imagine me flying down our street

not in my trainers or boots

but on wheels, with my ghetto-blaster.

Imagine people turning to stare

and all telling me to slow down

before I caused a disaster.

Imagine me gliding off into space

with a quick little nod to the Moon,

then simply going straight past her. . .

©Katherine Gallagher

Published in Through a Window, Longman, 1995)

Teacher Notes

Students might like to write a poem about something that belongs to them (for example, a bicycle,  an old car,  a scooter, a broom)  which suddenly takes off into space.  Describe the journey. Did they have any accidents? What did they see? smell? touch? hear? taste?

List everything that happened, using rhyme or free verse. Make it surprising and exciting.

Humpty Dumpty

jumped in the sea.

Humpty Dumpty

sank instantly.

All the young mermaids

and their mermen

couldn’t get Humpty

to surface again.

©Katherine Gallagher,

blazing wattle –

the splendour

of yellow

a ladybird

on the mock-orange

finds the sun

in the distance

the stillness

of trees leafing

Count up to spring,

it’s time to sing

with wattles golden, bright

and magpies – what a sight

as you’re walking through the bush –

such a perfect hush

and you want a lyrebird to surprise you

along with maybe, a kangaroo.

© Katherine Gallagher

Moon-talk

Moon, creamy white stone,

precious . . . Stick with the legends –

better at a distance.

My litany could go on –

I don’t want to visit,

take a machine-ride against gravity

brain-open.

But if I change my mind

Moon won’t have any

say in it.

©Katherine Gallagher

(Published in The Eye’s Circle, Rigmarole Press)

I’m mad about . . .

I’m mad about honey

that’s runny and funny

I’m mad about cheese

that grows on old trees

I’m mad about chilli

that’s spice-cool and silly

I’m mad about eggs

and rainbow-striped veg

I’m mad about jam

on speckled green ham

I’m mad about pepper

the hotter the better