SCARED!
One day the numerals were playing in the park;
They all seemed friendly, the game was a lark.
But six was scared, kept glancing around –
Ready to dash away with a bound.
The leader called them to stand in a row,
But six hung back, refusing to go.
‘I’m scared of seven at the top of the line.’
So why was six scared?
Because seven ate nine.
© Edel Wignell
Blue Cheese and Honey
There lived a horse who liked blue cheese
Served on a plate upon his knees
And every day the meal he ate
was cheese he ‘d placed upon his plate.
While out one day he found some honey
and poured it all – so sweet and runny-
upon the cheese upon the plate
set on his knees and so he ate
But the honey he had taken
Could have been a BIG mistake!
Bees flying in a frenzied state
Made a beeline for his plate
The horse ran off and left the honey –
upon the cheese – all sweet and runny
Thousands landed on his cheese
consuming honey as they pleased
Till gorging on and sated soon
they droned off in the afternoon
The horse returned and placed the plate
upon his knees and he was pleased
to realise-at least the bees
had left his Blue Cheese – which he ate.!
So if you choose to eat blue cheese
served on a plate upon your knees
avoid the thought of honey dressing.
Blue cheese – alone -is quite impressing!
© 2013 Jill Carter-Hansen
At the Park
Great sticks in hand
we marched along
in lines as straight as roads
heading to the forest
where trees stand tall in rows
A sudden halt
I ground my stick
look back way o’er my shoulder
he follows, s l o w
stick trailing now
behind my little brother
“Come on!” I cry
to speed him up
one last green stretch to cover
not knowing what the forest holds
it’s best we stayed together
He caught up fast
stick raised up now
and pointed like a sword
quietly we crept along
eyes peeled as we moved forward
tip-toe
tip-toe
tip-toe
tip –
We stop again
feet poised and still
and listen to the breeze
it brings the sounds of something
that lives within these trees
We feel it getting closer
hot breath and heavy steps
sniffing those who trespass
growling
then he leapt!
The fury of the dragon
was felt in flames of red
firing from his toothy mouth
smoke swirling round his head
We squeal as terror finds us
deep in this tree-lined forest
swords waving ‘round
as high-pitched cries
and beating wings surround us
Running hard
we stumble t’wards
the lit end of the path
an exit from the danger
a dragon’s angry wrath
Feet flying now
we cross the grass
and flop onto the mat
relieved, and breathing hard
we laugh … should we go back?
© Kristina Hoy
About the poet
Previously a full-time high school Science teacher, I now spend most of my time with my two young children. My poems are usually based on nature, written with the intent to encourage kids to explore, learn and connect with the outside world.
www.sandcastlesandskies.blogspot.com.au
The Big Release
Today will be full moon.
I feel a little jumpy,
eat candy with a spoon.
My pet is also grumpy –
the fickle armadillo.
He hums a ghastly tune
and rips my finest pillow.
I feed him a chocolate prune,
dress him in his favourite coat,
tie him to a hot balloon
and set him free to float.
Soon he’ll land, will run and roam
and I’m glad he left my home!
© Guundie Kuchling
from Naked Nonsense: Guundie’s Ridiculous Rhymes
Rhyming Curse
I think my problem’s getting worse.
My every thought is thought in verse.
This habit’s now become a curse.
It happens all the time.
Each word inside me rattles round.
It plays with pattern, rhythm, sound
and won’t come out until it’s found
a perfect one to rhyme.
I wish I knew the way to mend
this most excruciating trend.
Just when will this affliction end?
What happens if it grows?
It’s shown no signs of stopping yet.
If I go on like this I bet
my brain will very soon forget
the way to think in prose.
Toot! Toot!
TOOT TOOT!
I’ve lost my two front toofs,
I mean my two front teefs.
I toot toot when I talk talk now,
I whistle when I speak.
TOOT TOOT!
Watch out, you’ll get a drenching,
When I say my th’s and sh’es.
‘Round the words I spray and lisp,
As they slip through my soaked lips.
TOOT TOOT!
I just adore the way,
My gummy new mouth feels.
All soft and smooth with jagged bits,
Where new teeth poke right through.
TOOT TOOT!
I can do lots of tricks,
Like fill my gaps with choppy-sticks,
Or squeeze out custard through the spaces,
Making wacky, no teeth faces.
TOOT TOOT!
Will I miss my tooting,
When my big teeth come on down?
Will I have to act grown-up,
And stop clowning around?
No!
While I can I’ll toot my heart out,
Toot tooting my own tune.
I’ll enjoy my toofless yoofulness,
I’ll grow-up all too soon.
TOOT TOOT!
© Michelle Lewry
The Echidna
An echidna passed across a track
heading towards a special snack
A naturalist muttered, ‘What a turn!
about this creature, I’ve got to learn.’
He kneeled to take a closer look
the echidna swung with strong right hook.
And it was such a heavy clout
it nearly knocked the watcher out.
The echidna curled into a prickly ball
snarling, ‘I don’t like you at all.’
The naturalist cried and mused upon
what it was that he’d done wrong.
He only wanted to see first hand
the weirdest creature in the land.
The echidna uncurled and stalked away
grumbling at his ruined day.
And idiots too dumb to know
you always let echidnas go –
About their business digging holes
and eating ants from salad bowls.
Or snuffling around a great big mound
Where tasty termites are always found.
To spare echnida watchers pain,
the moral of this tale is plain.
Always remember it’s very rude
to keep echidnas from their food.
© Margaret Pearce
The Edible Swarm
By my door are massive trees,
swinging in a storm,
dropping lots of peas –
a gigantic swarm.
It comes in – the peas have keys –
and I squash them just like fleas,
get them on the stove to warm,
put them on a plate,
and eat dinner, thanks to fate!
Guundie Kuchling
from Naked Nonsense: Guundie’s Ridiculous Rhymes
Guundie Kuchling, born in Salzburg, gained her Master of Fine Arts in Vienna and arrived in Australia in 1987 with her husband Gerald, a world turtle expert.
Guundie has published 11 picture books and exhibits widely: oil paintings, water colours, lino prints, and sculptures. Her interests include throat singing, native wildlife, ear rings, growing vegetables, dry felting, labyrinths, and encouraging others to live creatively.
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
THE FAMILY CAT
Nestled on my lap
in a crevassed curve
to his liking
sharp edges unseen
body rounded
relaxed
rested
like a freshly placed pudding
plumped yet pleasing
to the eye
I feel the warmth
the beat
the motor mechanics
within
Purrrfectly Purrring…
Purrrfectly Purrring…
Purrrfectly Purrring…
I smooth his soft silkiness
and see
sleepy slits
slowly open
to reveal
green
golden
globes
gleaming
in contrast to black beauty
His eyes look into mine
adoringly…
speaking to my soul…
I trust you to care.
© Dianne Ellis
Throughout my life, I have enjoyed the company of cats in my home. I find the majority of cats are very soulful creatures, particularly the pure black ones who gracefully prance around taking confident ownership of property and loved ones.
One day I was sitting down writing when my gorgeous black Shadow effortlessly leapt onto my lap and settled there, as he always did.
It was only a moment in time but I felt the need to share my feelings and highlight Shadow’s special silent message through this poem. I hope you enjoy my words.
I have written poetry all my life, however in recent years, my love of writing has steered me towards children’s stories. Rusty Rumble and his Smelly Socks and Rusty Rumble’s Day at the Beach are my first published picture books and excerpts from my books can be seen on www.diannellisbooks.com.au
