Tag Archives: poems for children

A Plea for Green by Jaz Stutley

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A Plea for Green

 

Green are the hills for children:

a sunlit place of grasses,

dandelions and daisies;

 

as green as an apple, a fig,

an unripe fruit; the green

of memory and melody,

 

the scrubby bushy slopes

for exploration; tall trees

to climb, parks to run through.

 

Screens are not green

or sunlit; the blue wild

winds do not blow there –

 

a static buzz bends

the mind in dark rooms.

This is my plea for green.

 

Jaz Stutley

Time Travel by Julie Cahill

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Time Travel

 

The train left the station-

clickerty clack

the wheels gained motion-

clickerty clack

we then passed paddocks

of bones and dust

broken tractors, covered in rust

The train didn’t notice-

clickerty clack

but we did, with the notion

 

The train rambled on- clickerty clack

I nodded off- clickerty clack

And dreamt of the life

centuries before

of ladies’ long dresses

dusting the floor

The train didn’t notice-

clickerty clack

and my bonnet, shielded mine eyes

 

The train pulled into the station

C . L . I . C . K . E . R . T . Y

I woke with a jolt

 

I grabbed my laptop

and mobile phone

that enables connection

while travellers roam

The train didn’t notice, clickerty clack

on its timeline, to the future

Julie Cahill

It was serendipity when Julie’s poem happened to turn up in my in box ahead of my ‘Travelling’ poetry prompt. It also slots in nicely with an earlier prompt.

 

Trim by Pat Simmons

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Trim

I’m a black cat

A special cat

A ship’s cat.

I was born on the Reliance in 1799.

Of all my mother’s kittens

I was the one most fine.

I’m a black cat

A special cat

A ship’s cat.

I have four snow-white paws

And a white star on my chest.

Of all the cats on board this ship

The sailors like me best.

I’m a black cat

A special cat

A ship’s cat.

When it’s time for dinner

I don’t eat with other cats.

I sit at table with the men.

I don’t care for rats.

I’m a black cat

A special cat

A ship’s cat.

I have a trusty friend

And Matthew Flinders is his name.

He has called me Trim.

I think together we’ll find fame.

I’m a black cat

A special cat

A ship’s cat.

Matthew is a clever man

He’s sailed all round this land.

He’s given it a name

And that’s Australia – how grand.

Perhaps you have a cat at home

Is it as fine as me?

Would it like to come aboard

And sail upon the sea?

With a black cat

A special cat

A ship’s cat.

Pat Simmons

Pat said: ‘Trim’ is a special poem for me as it was the first poem I ever had published for which I was paid! Thank you Alphabet Soup which at that time was  a magazine as well as a great online resource.

 

Flight of Fancy by Jenny Erlanger

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Flight of fancy

 

I feel that my arms have been turned into wings

that I’m suddenly able to fly,

to glide through the air looking down on the things

that can only be viewed from the sky.

 

I’m up on that branch and I’m ready to go.

I can launch from my perch in a blink,

creating a distance from all that’s below

and without even having to think.

 

Of course I will never take off from a tree

but, although it may seem quite absurd,

I’m instantly weightless and totally free

when I chance to look up at a bird.

 

Jenny Erlanger

Jenny said: This poem developed as I walked the length of Hadrian’s Wall through the beautiful English countryside.

 

Pretty Cities by Celia Berrell

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Pretty Cities

Pretty cities love their trees.

We know they help prevent disease

by trapping poisons found in air

from fumy cars that drive round there.

 

Green-leaved cities cool things down.

Those leafy air-cons make no sound

evaporating water while

providing shady streets with style.

 

Tree-lined cities seem to manage

heavy rain and water drainage.

Tree roots tend to drink-up well-as

leafy crowns form umbrellas.

 

Pretty cities need their trees.

From wind-chimed leaves and shadowed ease

to joys of birdsong’s many keys.

So cities, please don’t lose your trees.

Celia Berrell

Celia said: In leafy suburbs and shady streets, gentle giant trees do more than simply add a splash of green to a city’s stony setting. I’m grateful for those city trees.

Platypus’s Penchant by Kate O’Neil

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Platypus’s Penchant

 

‘Wakey-wakey, Platypus –

time to have your tea.’

Mummy prodded Platypus

quite impatiently.

‘Pumpkin, please not pumpkin,’

was Platypus’s plea.

‘You know how food that’s orange

does not agree with me.

I want purple periwinkles,

pickled, for my tea.’

And if I must have veggies

I’ll eat a frozen pea.

Kate O’Neil

Ivy’s Adventure by Virginia Lowe

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IVY’S ADVENTURE

 

Irascible Ivy was angry

As she watched children skip through the gate

Magic shouldn’t be easy

It made her feel queasy

Still she worried that she’d be too late

 

She knew the gate had to lead somewhere

Enchanted that land was for sure

So she structured a ladder

And couldn’t be gladder

Imagine the magic she saw!

Virginia Lowe