Children's Poems

Picturebook Princess for Keira We had a special visitor. Our world became suddenly brighter. She was such a charmer! Such a delighter! With her sparkly diamond slippers and the way her whole being glows, Keira’s a picturebook princess from the points of her crown to the tips of her toes! The Aery Faery Princess for Keira There once was a princess lighter than fluff made of such gossamer stuff— the down of a thistle, butterflies’ wings, the faintest high note the hummingbird sings, moonbeams on garlands, strands of bright hair ... I think she’s just you when you’re floating on air! Will There Be Starlight Will there be starlight tonight while she gathers damask and lilac and sweet-scented heathers? And will she find flowers, or will she find thorns guarding the petals of roses unborn? Will there be starlight tonight while she gathers seashells and mussels and albatross feathers? And will she find treasure or will she find pain at the end of this rainbow of moonlight on rain? Lullaby for Jeremy Cherubic laugh; sly, impish grin; Angelic face; wild chimp within. It does not matter; sleep awhile As soft mirth tickles forth a smile. Gray moths will hum a lullaby Of feathery wings, then you and I Will wake together, by and by. Life’s not long; those days are best Spent snuggled to a loving breast. The earth will wait; a sun-filled sky Will bronze lean muscle, by and by. Soon you will sing, and I will sigh, But sleep here, now, for you and I Know nothing but this lullaby. There once was a leopardess, Dot, who indignantly answered: "I’ll not! The gents are impressed with the way that I’m dressed. I wouldn’t change even one spot." There once was a dromedary who befriended a crafty canary. Budgie said, "You can’t sing, but now, here’s the thing— just think of the tunes you can carry!" Generation Gap A quahog clam, age 405, said, “Hey, it’s great to be alive!” I disagreed, not feeling nifty, babe though I am, just pushing fifty. Options Underwater: The Song of the First Amphibian by Michael R. Burch “Evolution’s a Fishy Business!” 1. Breathing underwater through antiquated gills, I’m running out of options. I need to find fresh Air, to seek some higher Purpose. No porpoise, I despair to swim among anemones’ pink frills. 2. My fins will make fine flippers, if only I can walk, a little out of kilter, safe to the nearest rock’s sweet, unmolested shelter. Each eye must grow a stalk, to take in this green land on which it gawks. 3. No predators have made it here, so I need not adapt. Sun-sluggish, full, lethargic?I’ll take such nice long naps! The highest form of life, that’s me! (Quite apt to lie here chortling, calling fishes saps.) 4. I woke to find life teeming all around? mammals, insects, reptiles, loathsome birds. And now I cringe at every sight and sound. The water’s looking good! I look Absurd. 5. The moral of my story’s this: don’t leap wherever grass is greener. Backwards creep. And never burn your bridges, till you’re sure leapfrogging friends secures your Sinecure. Originally published by Lighten Up Online Keywords/Tags: amphibian, amphibians, evolution, gills, water, air, lungs, fins, flippers, fish, fishy business Success for Jeremy We need our children to keep us humble between toast and marmalade; there is no time for a ticker-tape parade before bed, no award, no bright statuette to be delivered for mending skinned knees, no wild bursts of approval for shoveling snow. A kiss is the only approval they show; to leave us—the first great success they achieve. Epitaph for a Palestinian Child I lived as best I could, and then I died. Be careful where you step: the grave is wide.