Category Archives: Australian children’s poetry

Mr Chirrup’s Choir by Nicola Phillips

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Green faces shining under the bright moon light,
Mr Chirrup’s choir took their place; antennae and tails sitting just right.
With one final check of his red bow tie,
Mr Chirrup picked up his baton and unleashed the choir to the night sky.
Tenor, baritone and bass harmonising together as one,
The tree branch they were standing on vibrating noisily enjoying the fun.
Distant stars twinkling brightly celebrating the sound,
For Mr Chirrup’s choir was star-ward bound!
If you listen quietly and hear crickets chirping this summer season,
More than likely, Mr Chirrup’s choir might be the reason!

Artwork: MR CHIRRUP THE CRICKET AND HIS CHOIR by Cindy Wider

My Mad, Mad Music Room by James Aitchison

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Doh ray me fah,
I’m going to be a music star!
Plinkety-plunk, plunkety-plink,
sounds pretty good, don’t you think?

Next, I’ll learn the violin;
I’ll tuck it underneath my chin.
I’ll slide the bow across the strings
and play all kinds of funny things.

Squeaky-squawk, squawky-squeak,
eeky-awky-awky-eek.
I can hear them clap for more
when they hear my music soar!

Herberton Historic Village, North Queensland. Photo by Ginette Pestana.

The Flower and the Spider by Jeanette Swan

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This grevillea inflorescence
is like a hairy Huntsman spider
lying up-side-down.

Delicate pink appendages,
fuzzed and curled,
make awkward question marks
from those posing bendy legs.

Will the next hairy Huntsman then,
seem a fuzzy flower
with curvy pistil tubes?

Perhaps…
if it is dead…

But, maybe that’s too sad to say.
It must be fun to run that way,
‘BOO!’

Teacher’s Note: Often called “Spider Flowers”, Grevilleas are Australian natives. The pistil is the curving part of the grevillea made up of style and stigma. Inflorescence is a fancy word for flower.

Image from Pixabay

It’s Your Choice by Louise McCarthy

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Train leaving,
Train leaving platform nine,
Leaving platform nine in five minutes,
I repeat, train leaving shortly.
Train leaving, tickets ready,
Tickets ready, have your tickets ready,
Have your tickets ready,
Get your tickets, tickets selling fast,
Get your tickets,
Roll up, roll up, and get your tickets
Roll up, roll up…

The circus is in town,
The circus is in town, forget about the train,
The circus is in town, the train’s left anyway,
Next train, will be leaving from platform three,
Next train, leaving in five minutes,
It’s your choice, the circus is in town
It’s your choice, support the clowns
It’s your choice, there will be other trains.

Image from Pixabay

Captain R Jaken’s Warning by Andrew Plant

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Please Note: Captain R Jaken’s “jackspeak” (slang) and vanity means he pronounces Kraken like his name Cray-ken.

Let thar be no mistakin’
Said Captain R Jaken
Don’t ever, noooooo never awaken the Kraken

If youse awaken the Kraken
Said Captain R JaKen
Knoooows this for sure, I’m not foolin nor fakin
The seas will start bubblin-n- squubblin-n-shakin
Jack tars-n-mermaids will be quiverin-n-quakin
Islands-n-light’ouse will be battered til breakin
Many-a ship for meals will be taken
All plans to go swimmin will needs be forsaken

Ain’t no myth I’m makin’
Said Captain R Jaken
Don’t ever, noooooo never awaken the Kraken

Image from Pixabay

Our Most Famous Tree by James Aitchison

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Here it stands
in the Flinders Ranges,
in arid soil,
scarred by changes.

Still it stands,
hollow yet growing,
spreading shade,
no sign of slowing.

Loved by all
who come to see
Australia’s spirit
in one tree.

This iconic gum became famous in 1941 when photographed by Harold Cazneaux. This photo by Ginette Pestana in 2024.

Carolling Crickets by Celia Berrell

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How many tunes do we know
and how many songs can we sing?
Hearing those high notes and low
is making my heartstrings ring.

Our crickets sing faster or slow
with temperature ruling their timing.
Rubbing their wings like a bow
on some scratchy violin.

How many tunes do they know
and how many songs can they sing?
Their music will only flow
if it’s warm, beginning in spring.

Who are they chirruping to?
It’s strictly a lady’s thing.
Our cricket choir sings to woo
their girls with their carolling.

Artwork: Mr Charles Chirrup the Cricket and his Choir by Cindy Wider

Bird Watch by Jackie Hosking

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I find it disconcerting
alarming and alerting
the unashamed asserting of their glee.

It is true they sound impressive
if not manic and aggressive
then undoubtedly excessive definitely.

Their reaction is confusing
as I’m not at all amusing
it’s my ego they are bruising carelessly.

Don’t they know it’s impolite
taking unabashed delight
cracking up at all in sight hysterically.

With their cacophonic chorus
piercing skin that’s thin and porous
you would think that they abhor us certainly.

But apparently this bird
whose refrain is so absurd
was created to confer a word of warning.

To the spirits who reply
to the Kookaburra’s cry
lighting up the inky sky at dawn each morning.

A Note for Poets: is it time for your submission to Jackie Hosking’s Spring Competition (deadline 30th November)

Image from Pixabay