Sudden bursts of gold,
Sweeping colour bold,
By rivers, by roads, in country and town,
In farms and gardens, the wattle’s the crown.
Of the end of the winter, beginning of spring,
The blooming of wattle will sing and sing
Of birds in their nests and the warm days to hand,
For the wattle is blooming across the land.
Soap-fish, soap-fish, slipping through my fingers,
Soap-dish, soap-dish, sailing like a boat.
Toothbrush, toothbrush, turning into long-ship,
Hairbrush, hairbrush, learning how to float.
Look! One hand’s a submarine,
The other a breaching whale,
My toes are pointed coral rocks,
There’s the splash of a dolphin’s tail!
My bath’s become an ocean,
And I’m the sailor bold
Who roams the wild blue yonder–
Until the water gets cold!
Sophie Masson
All the day long, the bluebird sings,
High in the trees, high on the wing.
All the day long, the red cow eats,
Moos and eats, moos and eats.
All the night long, the blue dog howls,
Keeps up the neighbours with his sad yowls.
All the night long, the red fox prowls,
Watch out you farmers, lock up your fowls!
Sophie Masson
Hippogriff, hippogriff, where do you go?
I go to the city to put on a show.
Hippogriff, hippogriff, what will you do?
I’ll be the ringmaster, and here is my crew:
A dragon in top hat,
A werewolf acrobat,
A strongman, Mr Troll,
An elf who vaults the pole;
A phoenix on trapeze,
A goblin who rides fleas,
A witch to play the clown:
The circus comes to town!
Sophie Masson
Eagle Song
Hill-lord sorcerer, wedge-tailed eagle,
Drawn on breath of wind.
Brown breadth plunging, arrow-lunging,
Earthing into prey.
Gold eye blazing, coldly fazing
Storm that’s coming on.
Sky-sail clipper, wedge-tailed eagle,
Drifting on the wind.
Rip waves forming, slow tide borne in
Flash of bronze and white.
Thunder rattling, lightning shattering,
Trees and livid sky.
Still there’s eagle, riding bravely,
Master of the storm.
© Sophie Masson
Sea Song
I took my teddy down to the sea
Thinking what fun it was bound to be,
But he took one step and his paws got all wet
He doesn’t want to go for a swim just yet.
I took my budgie down to the sea,
Thinking what fun it was bound to be,
But he took one look and he flew away,
He just won’t go to the sea today.
I took my puppy down to the sea,
Hoping she’d love it just like me.
She barked at the waves, then ran in to play,
I think we’ll stay at the sea all day!
© Sophie Masson
Australian Children’s Poetry 