Chopsticks!! by Marcus Ten Low

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Chopsticks
was a song that my jokesy old dad
played just before dinner arrived.
Dad boasted that his song was rad…
We thought he was dinner-deprived!
We always had winding spaghetti like snakes,
in meals that took longer than the game of AFL,
‘cause baby would kick the meatballs in her shakes,
as we held up our chopsticks like goalposts as well,
and if the ball made it between two of such posts,
we would scream loud and proud! and all of the sauce
would hit our Dad splat on the face! and like ghosts,
we’d all cower under the table, of course, of course!

Image from Pexels

Each Of Us! by Marcus Ten Low

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Sally giggling, her ponytails wiggling.

Roger nodding, his long grim face bobbing.

Michael cackling, his knuckles crackling.

Susan farewelling, her weeping eyes swelling.

Desmond gloating, his fat tummy bloating.

Frances dancing, her style so entrancing.

Warren pouting, his shiny head doubting.

Sheila wailing, to no good availing.

Thelma yearning, but never returning.

Drawing by Marcus Ten Low

Me and My Recorder (A Story) by Marcus Ten Low

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I picked-up my recorder
and started blowing loudly,

a tootle-oo and tootle-ay
while Dad was snoring proudly;

I leant over his breathing chest
to listen to his heart,

then went outside playing my tune
as stars lit-up the chart;

I stood on tiptoe, eating grapes
on this side of the neighbor’s fence;

and played my pipes, until their dog
emerged in their defence;

but as I stood under the stars
and played my pretty song,

the dog stuck-out his wet old tongue,
and then began to croon along—

and all the cats hidden among
the roses then pricked their sharp ears,

until I’d played my last this night—
the cats and dogs (with no more fears)

slept soundly then, but woe, alas,
my Dad came-out to yell and scream

at me for waking him, and he awoke
the cats and dogs, and then
I woke-up from my dream…

Photo from Pexels by Alexas Fotos

Blueberries by Marcus Ten Low

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I love to fist them by the fistful
Right into my mouth,

I eat ’em walking to and fro,
And east and north and south;

When one of them might roll away,
I grab at it, and bite it down,

At least for now, these berries be
The cheapest things in town.

These little eyeballs, blue blue blue,
The sweetest flavors, chomp and chew,

I ought to wash them under tap,
And eat and take a little nap,

And dream of where they’re grown…

Photo from Pexels by Markus Spiske

desiree at the opera by Marcus Ten Low

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o boy, could that fat lady sing!
she sung a very special aria!

we didn’t know that she could wing
that complicated song, and look the star-ia!

but with her front teeth (and I sorely quote)
’twas rather she would whistle every note

so shrilly to the rafters of the hall,
it seemed her voice could magically enthrall,

o heavens above, it was not over
in this operatic swift manoeuvre

till the fat lady did whistle, or just sing!
but if it was a whistle, it was shrill,

and if a song, some sort of highland fling!
whatever it was, it was quite the thrill!

Umbrella by Marcus Ten Low

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i have such a big umbrella,
but i’m such a little fella.

i look a treat with my galoshes,
a splish and splash and silly sploshes,

shielded from so many showers,
walking among rain-speckled flowers,

and now the wind blows through my hair,
blowing my brolly when i’m unaware

and turning it inside-out!
god of the skies, oh what a clout!

my poor brolly rolls end on end
that i’m sooooo wet…condemned!

o silly golly gosh, you brolly!
how you make me mad and yet…so jolly!…

Exercise Routine by Marcus Ten Low

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stretch out your toes,
as far as it goes!

let your long fingers
out, so each one lingers…

breathe from down low,
let the good air flow!

jump like the stars,
or leap over the bars!

lie down on the mat
and arch like a cat!

or extend a leg or arm,
and sway slow like a charm!

stretch every good muscle
slooow…among others’ hustle –

don’t forget to drink water,
and cooling down after!

to get fit needs routine
to get muscley and lean –

whether morn or afternoon,
please do come again soon!

I Did Not See The Cat by Marcus Ten Low

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I did not see the cat play dead.

I did not see her on my head—

I did not see her hide inside

My newest hairdo wild and wide.

I did not hear her caterwaul,

Nor see the scratches on the wall,

I did not see her eat the mouse,

Or hide the body ‘neath the house.

I did not give her balls of yarns

Stored up in Grandma’s giant barns,

Nor see her with her claws destroy

Gran’s crochet, with a look so coy,

Nor leap off Grandma’s rocking-chair,

I did not see her anywhere—

I did not see her tip the vase

Of flowers, or upset the jars,

Or scowl to spy the neighbor’s cat,

Or hide under the tall top hat—

All that I saw was clearly that:

The cat sat on the mat.

number fun by Marcus Ten Low

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splotch of my feet,
splotch one by one,
 
two eyes watching,
me and you.
 
three monkeys laughing
with such glee.
 
four walls standing,
slamming their doors.
 
five fingers, like worms,
keeping alive.
 
six matchsticks,
like a bag of tricks.
 
seven devils singing,
to make it back to heaven.
 
eight fat people,
food is so great!
 
nine lies twisted
in my mind, ready
to explode, like a mine.
 
ten things listed,
where what when…