Reality, Poetry for kids

OK, fair warning:  this poem contains puns.    I wrote it a very long time ago.....(no, I'm not implying that I've matured since then into someone who doesn't like puns....!)

At the Zoo


We went to the zoo
to see what was gnu.
We saw a duck-billed platypus
who got extremely mad at us,
and a stone tyrranosaurus
who seemed quite carnivorous.
We passed a group of Anglo-philes
who were staring at the crocodiles.
Next was the cage of the aardvark
who startled us with a loud bark
while feeding on the anopheles--
he didn't seem too hard to please!
Last we passed a large warthog
whose face looked something like a log.
We really enjoyed our trip to the zoo--
didn't ewe?


Karla, 1980s

Reality, Poetry for Kids

Every once in a while,  I'm posting one of the poems I've written---ones I think children might like.
(Don't worry though---you'll always know it's coming, because 'poetry' will appear in the title.)

Here's today's poem...(.written when I was also a very young kid.)

Memories


Alive, yet dead.
Tucked away in bed.
Sad and sweet,
folded neat.
In the back of your mind,
they're not hard to find.
They linger yet, not willing to go---
they're memories of things
you used to know.

Karla, 1970s

Poetry for Kids, 2

OK....here's the thing:  I write poetry.  (I know, many people do.)  I'd like to be able to share my poems with other people...so every once in a while,  I'm going to post one of my poems.

Never fear:  you'll know it's coming, by the post title.

But for those who may just possibly enjoy it, here goes.

Words

I like the sound of words.
I like the crunch and crackle
as they chuckle in my cheeks.
I like their golden glimmer
and their bouncy, bopping beat.
I like the boldness of brave Bee
and the peppery popping of palpitating Pea.
I like the slithery slippery sliding
of Ssss, sneaking softly to silence.
I like the way words wet and gray
drip with rain on a sunny day.
I like their snazzy, jazzy walk.
I like the cuddly cooing of baby-talk.
I like the sound of words.

(Karla, 1980)

Reality: Poetry for Kids

Talking with my students about--and being introduced to--imaginary friends...reminded me of my big brother Joey, who had three imaginary friends during childhood.

Since one of our other topics was poetry and song lyrics, it seemed appropriate to post, this weekend, the story of Gonieony, Geengy, and PanPan--Joey's longlost friends.  Here it is, written (by me) when those friends had not been away yet, for very long...

Gonieony, Geengy, and PanPan

 Gonieony, Geengy, and PanPan
slept beside Joey's bed.

Gonieony, Geengy, and PanPan--
"My best friends", Joey said.

Gonieony, Geengy, and PanPan
followed Joey's feet...
up the stairs and down the stairs, and
up  and down the street.

Gonieony, Geengy, and PanPan
went exploring with Joey each day.
They conquered the yard, and sunk a few ships,
and turned  the bathtub into a bay.

Gonieony, Geengy, and PanPan
could hide in the dark or the light.
Why else could Mommy not see them,
when they're standing so plainly in sight?

Gonieony, Geengy, and PanPan
ran off to Wewash when Joey turned ten.
They liked it so much, they stayed for a while---
but he still sees them, now and again.
---Karla, 1980s


Not great poetry, I know---more, just a bit of fun for a Saturday morning.

See you tomorrow.

--K