Clowning Around
A clown with a cauliflower ear
Decided that he would appear
In a colander hat
With a cute climbing cat.
But the cat said
‘Not likely my dear.’
Category Archives: Australian children’s poetry
Cumin by Walter de Jong
Leave a commentCumin to my kitchen
is a warming winter soup
starring cauliflower of course
the biggest top in town.
Collected in my colander
Is my tender little troupe
but as I rinse them in a rivulet
something wriggles then rolls down
he has practiced this performance
to avoid birds and their beaks
he seems suited to a circus
he’s like a caterpillar clown
Walter de Jong
The Night Sky by Vanessa Proctor
Leave a commentThe night sky
fills with the shrieks
of flying foxes,
street lights
cast strange shadows
and the last ferry
blinks across the harbour,
the tide lap-lapping
the foreshore,
as the city stretches,
then curls in
upon itself.
Vanessa Proctor
Published in Through the Looking Glass (Volume V Issue I, March 2016).
Sweet and Sour by Nadine Cranenburgh
Leave a comment
Sweet and Sour
Black morsels crawling all around,
my feet are being tickled
by sugar ants and honey ants
and gherkin ants
all pickled.
Nadine Cranenburgh
Nadine said: The pickle prompt a while back made me think of a nonsense poem I wrote for Sally Odger’s upcoming poetry anthology, which played with the idea of ants of both sweet and savoury varieties.
At the School Camp by Katherine Gallagher
Leave a commentAt the School Camp
In our hut, I’m first awake.
I peer through the curtains –
nothing’s stirring out there
except for three magpies and a crow
looking for their breakfast – maybe a worm
or two. Haven’t they slept? It’s only six o’clock!
Everyone in this hut is still asleep.
Then suddenly I see the sun
climbing, climbing, ever so slowly –
a faraway orange
that I can’t reach.
Katherine Gallagher
Published in Read Me At School (ed Gaby Morgan, Macmillan Children’s Books, 2009)
Katherine said: I love “LOOK” as a POETRY PROMPT. It reminded me of my poem AT THE SCHOOL CAMP inspired by a wonderful sunrise in a weekend camp at Axedale, near Bendigo, Victoria.
Holiday Playground by Monty Edwards
Leave a commentHoliday Playground
Rambling round the ruins
Found in Greece and Rome,
We are merely tourists
Very far from home.
What it’s like to live here
We can only guess.
Is it full of interest?
Hear us answer: “Yes!”
Ruins tell us stories
Of a nation’s past,
But its former glories
Often do not last.
Wars and evil leaders
Good things can destroy;
Plagues and vile diseases
Steal a nation’s joy.
Rambling round the ruins,
Climbing steps and stairs,
Weaving through the columns,
We cast off our cares.
Here we hide from siblings;
Trick our dad and mum;
Once we were reluctant.
Now we’re glad we’ve come!
Monty Edwards
Monty says: Children can turn even ancient ruins into playground equipment at will!
Dance Steps by J.R. Poulter
Leave a commentDance Steps
Down sunbeams
Through shadows,
Along the light dancing…
I see in your hand waves,
The flick of your lashes,
A glimmer of laughter,
A shimmered illusion
Of flight
But not quite…
Reflections in water
Rippling,
Stars in the sky pool
Tripling,
Over the shoulder
Glancing,
Smiles from my daughters
Dancing!
JR Poulter
The Platypus at Abbotsford by Stephen Whiteside
Leave a commentThe Platypus at Abbotsford
A young platypus was recently sighted in Melbourne’s Yarra River, where it winds through the inner city suburb of Abbotsford.
The platypus at Abbotsford is new upon this earth.
It isn’t very long ago its mother gave it birth.
It views the world with wonder, and it moves with merry mirth,
And doesn’t see the dangers in the shadows.
The platypus at Abbotsford is learning how to dive,
And all the other little tricks it needs to stay alive.
Let’s hope it does much more than live, and learns to really thrive,
But perils lie in wait in all directions.
The platypus at Abbotsford is thrilled to find such space.
It can’t believe that others have not occupied this place.
It doesn’t know they did, but failed to prosecute their case.
Their bones lie buried in the river’s bottom…
The platypus at Abbotsford gives hope, gives joy, gives heart
That each and every one of us will play our vital part
In making sure that platypus gets off to a great start
To face an even more successful future!
Stephen Whiteside
The Kitten Tree by Vanessa Proctor
Leave a commentThe Kitten Tree
Two tiny stripey kittens
think that I’m a tree
with sharpened claws
and agile paws
they scale my legs
to the knee.
At table height
they alight
to see what they can get
a tasty treat,
some cheese, some meat,
two cheeky little pets.
Scratched and sore
I shoo them off
to scamper on the floor,
but turn my back
and just like that,
they shimmy up for more.
Vanessa Proctor
Published in Through the Looking Glass Volume V Issue I, March 2016
A Star Turn by J.R. Poulter
Leave a commentA Star Turn
Twinkle star, Twinkle bright!
A clamour of glamour across the night!
Little stars, eyes alight,
Tutus and tights, bold and bright!
How do I look? Have I got it right?
Will I look a lovely sight?
Please, don’t let me get stage fright…
Oh I’m trying with all my might!
I SO want my star to shine tonight!