“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!”
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.
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?”
Lee 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
There’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
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, 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
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
When the humans were asleep
In nightgowns and nightcaps,
The midnight rat would creep inside
And feast upon their scraps.
The midnight rat was crafty,
The midnight rat was sly,
He’d always slink in shadows,
Unseen by human eyes.
But there was someone watching,
With eyes that gleamed in black,
The midnight rat could see him:
The cunning household cat.
The midnight rat was agile,
And cautious, quick and smart,
That cat could never catch the rat,
When the house was clothed in dark.
So the cat approached politely
And he bent down very low.
“Oh rapturous rat I love your work,
I do admire you so.
“But I would make a suggestion,
If I could be so bold.
A king like you should never dine
On scraps so soggy and cold.
“The humans have cake in the daytime,
And bread and scones and pies,
There’s so much good food in the daytime,
You wouldn’t believe your eyes.
“The only thing you really need,
Ask anyone who steals,
If you are going to make a getaway –
Is a brand new set of wheels.”
The rat told him to keep away
And ran off with his loot,
But then he started pondering
As he chewed on soggy fruit.
He was the Midnight Rat!
The cleverest rat by far!
It would be a snap for him
To build a speedy car.
And build away he did,
Though you may find it surprising,
The rat had made that car
By the time the sun was rising.
And he could smell the breakfast
And he didn’t stop to think,
The car whizzed straight inside
Faster than a blink.
And what a tale of glory!
What a momentous day,
The rat snatched a delectable haul
And was making his getaway.
But outside the car slowed
And the cat caught him with ease…
Instead of using tyres,
He had used four wheels of cheese.
As he watched them melting on the road
The rat knew we was done,
His greatest foe was not the cat
But that infernal sun.
The cat smiled a wicked grin,
“I never thought of that!
I think my favourite meal might be
Grilled cheese à la rat.”
Green
Our fast green car
Green world
Stomach churning
Head spinning
Spinning
The world turning
Upside down
Downside up
Around and around
Wheels rolling
Streets passing
Blurred buildings
Blurred faces
Blur blur blur
Ur…
Dad, stop!
I’m going to throw …
Too late.
Australian Children’s Poetry 