If a Thesaurus
came before us
would it claw us?
Or even gnaw us,
as soon as it saw us?
Not really.
A Thesaurus is a book
stuffed full of words,
so it would probably
just ignore us.
(As published in The Dirigible Balloon)
Tag Archives: poems for children
Foster Boxer by Jeanie Axton
Leave a commentThis poem was inspired by a news story I watched, then researched, about a boxer named Treasure, who became a mum to eight little piglets on a farm in Queensland.
Eight cute little piglets
grunting and squealing today
because a boxer named Treasure
came bounding their way
A stray herself
Treasure played her part
taking the eight little piglets
straight into her heart
She rounded them up
with cuddles and licking
her milk came in
with the suckling and kicking
On a farm with eight kids
and eight piglets in tow
Treasure the Boxer
put on a great show
She now has a family
Treasure loves them to bits
a boxer and eight piglets
the perfect farm fit
Bubble Poem by Marcus Ten Low
Leave a comment“how do you write a poem?”
the youngster cries.
“i hear with my ears,
and see with my eyes–
i pick a thing, a seed,
to softly blow, and blow,
and blow into a dangly,
loopy bubble…
seeing how it stirs,
or bulges,
and how my mind believes,
reflects, indulges
in its pause; and does it
look for trouble?
quicken the heart?
or make one feel so smart?
all these things a poem is,
once nothing, into synthesis.
you have a go now!
and let me know!”
“Thongs and Boardies” by Sioban Timmer
Leave a comment
Thongs and Boardies
Songs of yore, can be a bore
When they speak of snow and Holly.
Songs of sun are much more fun
To make our Christmas jolly.
We don’t ride sleighs – we catch some rays
As temperatures are soaring.
Hams to slice and prawns on ice
The feast is never boring.
Thongs on feet are not complete
Without our favourite boardies.
And by the pool, we’re staying cool
As Christmas hits the forties.
We don’t admire yuletide fire
Where chestnuts sit to roast.
We find fun with water guns,
Watch the sunset by the coast.
Raise a cup, with head held up
And toast the winter failure.
Sunshine above, what’s not love
That’s Christmas in Australia.
“Christmas Confusion” by Louise McCarthy
Leave a commentChristmas Confusion.
Exhausted I was – one Christmas Eve,
After putting out presents for Santa – Indeed!
I sat on the sofa and ate Santa’s supper.
Instead of the milk – I had a hot cuppa.
I started to doze, I started to dream.
I dreamt I was flying as one of a team.
It was cold; it was freezing; my nose – it was red!
Then someone roared “Rudolf!” And I turned my head.
“To the top of the porch…”
“Yes I know how it goes.”
And instinctively up off the ground I arose.
Dashing here, there and yonder,
With no time to ponder.
Delivering presents all made by the elves.
And when the night ended,
And at last we descended;
I wearily lay down to rest on the hay.
I started to doze, I started to dream.
Then someone yelled “Dad! Where have you been?
Santa’s left presents! Mum’s set the table…
Why are you out here asleep in the stable?”
“The Singing Spaniel” by Jeanie Axton
Leave a commentLee and Jazz
On the grass
Ukulele in hand
Learning fast
Tune in the air
Jazz’s ears prick
She starts to sing
Learning real quick
Songs in the garden
Float down the street
A boy and his dog
Sounding so sweet
A bond forged in music
A love made to last
The sounds of friendship
In music is cast
Jeanie Axton
A Fluffy Thermometer by Celia Berrell
Leave a commentThere’s plenty of ways
to tell if the day is
too hot or cold
without being told.
You could try and catch
a fluffy pet cat
then watch and observe
to see how it’s curved.
When days are too hot
it’s likely as not
that cat’s all sprawled-out
in some shaded spot.
When researchers test
what temperature’s best
for comfort of cats
they find out these facts.
Those felines agree
that eighteen degrees
is purr-fectly warm
for cat’s furry form.
Then when it’s too cold
those pussycats fold
up cosy and still
to keep out the chill.
Scoot Scoot by Jeanie Axton
Leave a commentScoot Scoot
Said the scooter
Shining in the sun
Time for me
To have some fun
Zoom Zoom
Said the scooter
Rider and helmet ready
Today we go fast
But take it steady
Whoosh Whoosh
Said the scooter
Down the street
Feet on kickboard
Who can we beat?
Zip Zip
Said the scooter
What a fun day
Zooming along
Smiling all the way
Jump Jump
Said the scooter
Trying a trick
Up in the air
And down real quick
Ring Ring
Said the scooter
A loud ring of the bell
Turn and head back
All is well
Yawn Yawn
Said the scooter
I’ve had a big day
Time to go home
Slowly make my way
Shuffle Shuffle
Said the scooter
Trudging back to the shed
Time for scooters
To be in scooter bed
Snooze Snooze
Said the scooter
Snoring away
Dreaming of tomorrow
Another scooter day
I Can, I Can’t by Lenny McGoo
Leave a commentI can, I can’t, the difference is
One tiny little letter
‘won’t use the “T”, or I will be
Worse off, instead of better
But if I say “I can, I can”
My confidence will soar
And hope will come my way because
I opened up its door
“I can, I can!” will make me brave
My thinking it will change
And pocketsful of obstacles
Will vanish down the drain!
And if I cultivate “I can”
“I can’t” will sound so weird
And soon I’ll wonder where they went
Those things that I once feared
“Progression” with Teacher notes
Leave a commentProgression
She showed it
to her slavedriver
who saw the possibilities
He promoted slave Hannah
to supervise
the sawing team
Before,
hundreds pulled the immense stone block
on its log rollers
A team of twenty waited at the back
to grasp the log-load
when it had been run over
The back log had to be
hauled to the front
to be run over yet again
If only the stone could stay still
on the logs while they kept rolling
Clearly impossible. Hannah scowled
But a slice of log sawn from one end
would roll the same way
With a hole in the middle
supporting – well we’d call it an axle
and a second round piece from the log
On her model it worked perfectly
Wheels! Wooden wheels!
The first cart
Wheelbarrows, trains, cars, trucks
cogs, pulleys, clocks, machines
Life on earth would never be the same.
Virginia Lowe
Notes:
The Israelites or Jews were kept slaves by the Egyptians, so I’m imagining it was the same time as they built the pyramids – that’s why I called the slave Hannah, originally a Jewish name.
In fact it wasn’t the same time – the pyramids were built about 300 years before the Israelite’s turned up. But it makes a more interesting story. A very very old story.
I couldn’t think of any way to describe the axle apart from our word, but it’s a concept they wouldn’t have had. I’d like to hear if anyone can think of how the rod holding the two wheels together and on the ground, could be described otherwise.
The Jews escaped from Egypt with the help of Moses, who persuaded the king, Pharaoh, to let them go with the help of ten plagues. It is all there told in the Bible in the book Exodus, and is celebrated each year by the Jewish community as Passover.
Ideas:
Maths: Looking at shape make Pyramids with cardboard
Humanities: Research the logistics of the building of the Pyramids
Learn about Jewish history and culture
Music: “Let my people go” This includes images that will help in learning about
Jewish history
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkEmS3hWmmU
Art: Paint: Make a giant class cardboard pyramid and creatively decorate it
Australian Children’s Poetry 