It looks like just
a ruined boat,
but what if we
could make it float?
We’d sail downriver
and out to sea,
with a yo-ho-ho,
my friends and me.
I’d be captain,
they’d be crew,
so they’d do what
I told them to.
We’d sail to China,
and then Peru,
on our own boat
on the ocean blue.
Old ship in Marlborough Sound, New Zealand. Photo by Ginette Pestana
Image by Linda Davidson
(in honour of Mother Tongue Day)
Remember remember the songs of your Grandma.
She sings and her words live in you.
Remember remember the gold of the old words
that carry her love that is true.
With chatter and clatter the kids in the school-room
are talking in words you don’t know.
Some words are for working, some words are for singing,
some words are like seeds that will grow.
The story of family is hiding in sayings
of mothers and fathers and aunts.
The melody, history, promise and poems
are magnets that stick to your heart.
Image from Pexels by Andrea Piacquadio
In Zombie Land each year
As Halloween is getting near
The zombie kids all flip their lids
In excitement … and in fear
For all around their zombie town
The spider webs are coming down
The city street is looking neat
And a smile now replaces a frown
A friendly giggle replaces a groan
Front lawns look so freshly mown
The filthy floor is cleaned once more
And all the scattered leaves are blown
The kids all shop with zombie force
They’ll have no zombie buyer’s remorse
They change their mind at least one time
They’re dressing as humans of course
They hide their greenish zombie faces
With make-up from expensive places
Brushed hair, perfumed here and there
They leave no zombie traces
They happily skip along their street
They hope for a trick or at least a treat
They wave and smile, chat for a while
And maybe even enjoy a sweet
Tomorrow is back to roaming around
Making a horrible groaning sound
Feeling down, wearing a frown
And sleeping under the ground
Image from Pexels by Mike Jones
Kindness is the biggest thing,
kindness makes the whole world sing.
Bigger than the mountains here,
deeper than the lakes appear,
kindness makes our lives worthwhile,
kindness always makes us smile.
When you show kindness anywhere,
it means the world that yes, you care.
New Zealand mountains seen from helicopter. Photo by Ginette Pestana
I climb on a chair
To brush my hair
Cause the mirror is too high up.
My teeth feel grimy.
I’ll make them shiny
With toothpaste I keep in a cup.
Next is my face.
What a disgrace!
Warm water will do the trick.
“There’s cheese on my chin,”
I say with a grin.
Then wipe it off real quick.
I’m excited today.
I’m ready to play.
And now I look pretty cool.
I jump on the floor,
And head to the door.
“Muumm, I’m ready for school!”
Image from Vecteezy
Where did you come from?
How far did you float?
Too twisted and torn
to come from a boat.
What tide washed you here
and flung you ashore?
If you could but speak,
I’d love to know more.
Looking out to the Tasman Sea from New Zealand. Photo by Ginette Pestana
My nose and eyes were trickling
And my throat was really tickling.
I was coming down with something, I could tell.
And I had this premonition
my particular condition
would be something that was very hard to spell.
I was sure I had an “itis”,
and most probably bronchitis
but the doctor’s looked me over, and I’m told
I don’t have pharyngitis
and I don’t have laryngitis.
What I’ve got is just a simple, common cold.
The new morning
quietly greets the day,
the soft dawning
rippling the bay,
teasing the cloud,
lighting the sky,
boats in a crowd,
and on the shore,
I wonder what the
day will be,
what adventures are
in store for me.
Near Picton, New Zealand. Photo by Ginette Pestana
I will leave behind the old shore,
that spent and weary year,
and cross over to the new,
bright and blue and clear.
I can see the peaks I’ll climb,
I’ll achieve my dreams — you’ll see!
I’ll make the world a better place,
the best year it can be.
A New Zealand lake and mountains. Photo by Ginette Pestana
Australian Children’s Poetry 
