Poems for Small People
Clementine Bobbin
Into the bath
At the top of the path
Hopped Clementine Bobbin,
A curious robin.
What bliss to keep cool
In her own little pool!
But then...
“Scooch over, darling!”
Sung Stella-Rae Starling.
“Budge up an inch,”
Squeaked Emerald Finch.
“My space is too narrow!”
Moaned Henricus Sparrow.
“Squeeze up a smidgen,”
Cooed Percival Pigeon.
Uh oh...
Out of the bath
At the top of the path
Fell Clementine Bobbin,
A curious robin.
She got to her feet
But before she could tweet
There came a great SQAAAWK
It was...
BELLATRIX HAWK!
What a kerfuffle!
A splash and a scuffle
The bathwater splattered
The garden birds scattered
With mad flapping scrambles
Whilst down in the brambles
Watched Clementine Bobbin,
A curious robin.
...
Into the bath
At the top of the path
Hopped Clementine Bobbin,
A curious robin.
What bliss to keep cool
In her own little pool!
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This story was a winning entry into the Spring Fling Kidlit competition 2024. Find the full winners list here.
Love Song
So many things to ribbit at
within my wetland habitat,
so many sights to stir me to a song -
the dragonflies, for starters,
dazzling dancers, rainbow darters
yet I keep my froggy lips closed all day long.
Swirling skaters loop-de-looping!
Here’s a hungry heron swooping
and the teal and regal kingfishers above,
handsome mallards ducking under
yet I float in silent wonder,
not a croak for any other but my love.
You will hear me when it’s dusk-y,
I may sound a little husky
as I sing my song of passion ‘neath the moon.
Hear the heart-ache in my “ribbit,”
it’s true love (I’d never fib it) -
how I hope my froggy-lady hears me soon.
Do Try This at Home
Why walk down steps
in the old upright fashion?
It's lacking pizazz,
it's empty of passion!
For those who seek sparkle
and less rule abiding,
try daring, diagonal bannister-sliding!
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Ssssh!
You know you should be silent,
but you’ve got an urgent itch
to chuckle like a kookaburra,
cackle like a witch,
to howl like a hyena,
hoo-hoo like an ape -
the teacher’s eyes are flashing
but the giggles still escape!
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Unclaimed
After Brian Moses
A briefcase of bouncy balls, keen to escape,
a velvety, star-speckled, silver-lined cape.
A duffel of dinosaur bones, slightly crumbling,
a self-playing didgeridoo, gently rumbling.
A trunk full of mystery keys, slowly rusting,
a bag full of jewels from a princess too trusting.
A package of Turkish Delight, still unbitten,
a suitcase of stories, their endings unwritten.
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This poem was inspired by a poem and writing prompt by Brian Moses. Brian kindly included my version on his brilliant blog - find it here.
What the Dinosaur Saw
I saw
a pterosaur soar,
fantastical and free.
I saw
a pterosaur soar
and swoop majestically.
I saw
a pterosaur soar
and – WATCH OUT FOR THAT TREE!
...
I saw
a pterosaur, sore.
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Tiptoe Tina: Broccoli Burglar!
A jiggle of a handle, a door that’s locked improperly,
and in slips Tiptoe Tina, to steal somebody’s broccoli.
Tiptoe Tina tiptoes home, begins at once to bake:
broccoli soup, broccoli pie and a broccoli forest cake.
A jiggle of a handle, a door that’s locked improperly,
and in slips Tiptoe Tina, to steal somebody’s broccoli.
Then home to make hot broccolate (it nicely warms her belly),
broccoli butter, broccoli bread and a jar of broccoli jelly.
A jiggle of a handle, a door that’s locked improperly,
and in slips Tiptoe... “OI! WOTCHA DOIN’ ON MY PROPERTY?”
Stompin’ Sam’s not happy. In fact, he’s stompin’ mad.
He says that stealing broccoli is criminally bad.
Tina whips some jelly from her pocket, tells Sam, “Try it!”
“Experience the brilliance of broccoli-based diet!”
He takes a bite and sees the light – he eats ‘til nothing’s left,
and thinks that he may be in love, but disapproves of theft.
So Sam and Tina start a farm to chase an honest dream,
to sow and grow and feast on greens; they make a perfect team.
A jiggle of a handle, a bad girl turned good, probably...
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...out slips Tiptoe Tina, to steal somebody’s broccoli.​
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This story was a winning entry in the Kidlit Chuckle Challenge 2024. Find the full winners list here.​