Tag Archives: rhyming poems

Pandas by Edwina Smith

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Way up in the mountains
Bamboo forests grow
Swaying to the seasons
Of rain, mist and snow
Only found in China
Elusive and so rare
Fur of black and white
Coats the Panda Bear

Majestic yet reclusive
He minds his own affairs
Pandas do not hibernate
Unlike other bears
Blending into shadow
He cannot be seen
Marking trees with scent
Tell others where he’s been

Large head and jaws to match
Makes easy work to chew
Food of the forest
His diet is bamboo
A type of little thumb
Coming from the wrist
Holds down tasty shoots
Which he can’t resist

With pupils of a cat
He sees well by night
Black fur ‘round each eye
Shades from bright daylight
Strong legs made for weight
Keen ears and sense of smell
Nature’s gifts such as these
Have served him very well

Sadly it came to pass
They became too rare
Action must be taken
To save the Panda Bear
The task awaits but where to start?
Many never knew
Much at all about this bear
Except they eat bamboo!

China’s first to take the lead
And saw what must be done
Now ‘Endangered’, chances slim
The challenge must be won
Other nations joined the quest
Sharing knowledge gained
No effort would be spared
Since very few remained

How to save these precious bears
And care for tiny cubs?
Many zoos around the world
Are conservation hubs
Bamboo forests were restored
Progress showed its face
Numbers slowly rising up
But Pandas set the pace!

Our world adores the Panda
A symbol of good will
Their future now assured
By hard work and skill
They fill each heart with pride
And joy beyond measure
May Pandas always be
China’s national treasure.

Photo from Pexels by Snow Chang

Lidia by Edwina Smith

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Way up North
Where forest gums grow
Lidia waits and thinks
Grasping a branch
Seen only by chance
Perhaps if she blinks

Amongst the trees
Is where she lives
For most of the day and night
She comes down to feed
Or when there’s a need
And basks in morning light

She hunts on the ground
Where insects are found
Watching from way up a tree
A beetle crawls by
Which catches her eye
It scuttles along to flee

Lidia scamps down
To snatch some lunch
A meal well in view
But wouldn’t you know
She encounters a foe
To pass or pursue

No time to hide
She opens up wide
And spits a nasty hiss
Standing her ground
With a frightful sound
Such courage as this!

Locked in a stare
Neither could bare
To scrap or to slip
Lidia knows what to do
There’s plan number two
Her tail is nature’s whip!

But that’s not enough
She’ll need more bluff
To make herself look bigger
Knowing the drill
She fluffs up her frill
A very timely trigger

A second to spare
Neither will dare
To lunge or to bite
Lidia’s made to deceive
Then take her leave
Departing in full flight

A fiery display
She then runs away
With a rapid retreat
Look at her go!
Outpacing her foe
Sprinting on two feet

She runs up a tree
All safe and sound
But didn’t catch her dinner
With tricks up her sleeve
So hard to believe
Lidia’s come through a winner

Blending right in
Against the bark
She can wait and see
Watching the ground
Where insects are found
The place for her to be

High on a branch
She hopes for a chance
To catch a meal today
Below there’s a rustle
She’s ready to tussle
Luck has come her way

Down she flies in pursuit
Lidia now gives chase
But she’s far too swift and strong
So easily wins the race
A centipede! What a feed!
It’s really been her day
Up the tree to wait and see
And that’s where she’ll stay

Photo from Pexels by Detlef Bukowski

All Aboard? No Thanks! by James Aitchison

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Stop the train,

I want to get off —

that bridge looks a disaster!

It happened when

they had a flood

and the river ran much faster.

It twisted the rails,

it bent the bridge —

any train would roll and sway.

So until it’s fixed,

until it’s safe,

no more trains will pass this way! 

Rail bridge at Einasleigh, Gulf Country, North Queensland. Photo by Ginette Pestana

Cheating A Crocodile by James Aitchison

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First I saw bubbles —

just two or three —

breaking the surface

of the water near me.

And then into view

came the beast’s ugly snout —

“Crocodile!  Crocodile!”

the world heard me shout.

I ran up the bank

as it clambered ashore

and sat in the sun

where I’d been before.

When it opened its jaws,

I had a strong hunch —

if I hadn’t moved quickly,

I would have been lunch!

Freshwater crocodile, Cobbold Gorge, North Queensland. Photo by Ginette Pestana

Bees by Graham Seal

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Hear the humble bumble

of the buzzy wuzzy bees,

as they flitter and they flutter 

through the flowers and the trees.

Gathering in sweet pollen

to take home to their hive,

where they make the runny honey

that helps the whole world thrive.

Image from Pexels by Michael Hodgins

Little Little by Sara Patricia Kelly

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I love your little little feet
and your little little toes,
your little little shoes
that match with little clothes.

I love your little little legs
with little dumpling knees
which wibble wibble wobble
like little sticks of cheese.

I love the little little button
in the middle of your tummy,
I love your little little giggles
and little thoughts; so funny!

I love your little little teeth;
precious yoghurt pearls
and your little little furry brows
beneath your bouncy curls.

I love the little little sparkle
in your dolly dolly eyes.
I wonder, how your little mouth
lets out such gigantic cries?

Photo from Pexels by Pixabay

Let’s Try On Shoes by Sara Patricia Kelly

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Tiddle and toddle and piggy pink toes,
buckles and buttons and bouncy big bows,
hopping on one foot and marching with two;
flip flops and booties or Dad’s giant shoe?
Slip on some slippers and slide into socks,
stomp in green gumboots and clomp in blue Crocs,
sandals and sneakers and snakes of shoelace,
feetsies and footsies all over the place.
Trying on shoes whether shiny or frayed,
on again, off again, join the parade!

Photo from Pexels by Max Schwoelk

My Iris Has Shaved! by James Aitchison

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Why is it called a bearded iris?

There’s not a whisker in sight.

Unless, of course, it had a shave

sometime in the night.

I think it looks just great

without a bristling beard,

and it if had a moustache

that would look very weird!

Bearded iris. Photo by Ginette Pestana

Ah, Springtime! by Graham Seal

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Ah, Springtime

All that nature in the air,

blocking up your nose.

Spores and pollens everywhere,

and then your nose explodes.

Allergies of every kind,

afflicting me and you –

quick, bring an antihistamine,

ah choo!

ah choo!!

ah choo!!!

Ah, Springtime!

Image by Corina from Pixabay

Sailing By by James Aitchison

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On the dreamy river,

drifting with the tide,

past old shutter’d houses

where history lives inside.

Breezes tease the palms,

stir a lazy frond or two,

and in the milky sky

the heat is shining through.

The Portuguese and Dutch,

the British all were here;

five hundred years of stories

like magic can appear.

An old kampong by the Melaka River, Malaysia. Photo by Ginette Pestana