CHILDREN'S POETRY

Welcome to the Children's Corner... For children of all ages! ;)

PETER AND THE WOLF

Long ago in a far away land, when ages still were good,

there was a boy named Peter, who lived right by the wood.

It was upon a winter's morn inside the outer gate,

that Peter decided to step outside, and chance his very fate.

His grandpa always told him that he must not go out there.

But the brave little Peter, really didn't care.

No wolf would get the best of him, and so he took a chance.

And if one happened by, he would make a stance.

Just outside the outer gate, he met his friends, Duck and Bird.

They got into an argument; the silliest ever heard.

Duck: she said, What kind of bird is it that cannot swim?

Bird: he said, What kind of bird cannot fly? It seemed dumb to him.

Peter tried to soothe them both, as bird hopped on the ground.

But out jumped sly old cat, as bird flew round and round.

Duck, she ran to the pond, as safe as she could be.

But bird was having trouble, as cat climbed up the tree.

Then grandpa came along and scolded Peter good.

And told him to step inside the gate, away from the wood.

Peter, just inside the gate, could see his friends and all.

When out of the woods they heard, a very strange distant call.

Out jumped a wolf, hungry and thin, from winter's useless care,

who was looking to find a most tasty and generous fare.

Bird, was still stuck high up in the tree,

while cat was on a branch looking down fearfully.

Duck, she was safe, but in fear ran around,

she got out of the water, running in circles on the ground.

Before she knew what happened, the wolf swallowed her whole.

Then he tried to climb the tree, even with his belly full.

Peter looked on, watching in angry disbelief,

as the wolf went on his hungry winter's feast.

Peter tied a rope on a branch in the tree,

and lassoed the wolf by the tail, as he dangled helplessly.

Then Peter stepped outside the gate, as two hunters happened by,

and said, "We've been tracking the wolf all morning, now he can die.

But Peter said,"NO" The wolf is safe in my care.

And to kill a helpless animal while tied, just isn't fair.

Peter had an idea; let's take the wolf to the zoo.

So marched Peter, Bird, Cat, and Hunters and Grandpa came too.

So wolf lived on many a year and got his second chance,

because a brave little boy named Peter went and took a stance!

THE BEAR FAMILY

There is a little cottage in the forest deep

with cozy little windows and a good up keep.

If you peek into the window and see a big green chair,

sleeping in a red cap, you will see papa Bear.

A cat lies by the fireplace, which brightens up the gloom.

And little brother and sister Bear, are tucked up in their room.

Mama Bear is in the kitchen, putting plates away,

reflecting on the finer points, that happened through the day.

So if you're in the forest deep, and see a cottage fair,

You'll know it is the home of the family Bear.

LITTLE RAY THE BUTTERFLY

Little Ray, the Butterfly,

flies up in the deep blue sky.

Flying past meadows and rolling hills,

landing on all of the window sills.

Then he flies through the town,

looking in all the stores around.

Landing on a ladies hat,

being chased by a cat.

Then as day turns into night,

when all the stars are shining bright.

Little Butterfly Ray gets into bed,

as mommy Butterfly kisses his head.

It was just another day,

for little Butterfly Ray.

LITTLE NANCY'S WORLD

Little Nancy starts to play,

upon a rainy day

imagining flying saucers

and lemons of lightning spray.

She serves a cup of tea,

to Peter Rabbit by the sea

leaping across mushrooms

riding on the back of Bumblebee.

Then as the moon brings the night,

and all the stars are shining bright

little Nancy dreams away

until the morning's light.

SICK DAY

As I lay upon my pillow

feeling sick and wane

I hear the grating of the Willow

upon my window pane.

Mommy brings a cup of tea

a calming balm it brings

I hear a bird up in a tree

as he gently sings.

My aches and pains soon are gone

as I get up to play

because a cup of tea; and cheerful song

chased the sick away.

LITTLE BABY BUMBLEBEE

Little baby Bumblebee

landed on a willow tree

with a little fuzz

and a little buzz

he flew away and said "weee"

MY CAT JACK

My cat Jack

as white as he can be.

I love my little kitty cat,

and he loves me.

He climbs upon my bed

and rubs against my back.

A friend to last a life time,

my cat Jack.

THE WEE FOLK

They gather in the night in the woods so deep,
while all of mankind is fast asleep.
They tell of legends and dance all night,
until the darkness turns to light.

They play their flutes and do a jig,
and talk of folk that are so big.
They are the wee folk merry and gay
but you'll never see them; they run away.

They live in treetops and hidden glade
and cherish each grasses blade.
They climb on every cherry tree,
and ride upon the bumble bee.

They are most happy; a jolly lot,
and tie your shoe laces in a knot.
If your quiet and as still as the wind,
maybe you'll see the wee folk then.

LAURA'S WORLD

Dancing ladies and brave knights,

frog princes and magical kites,

this is Laura's world.

Bicycling elephants and lady of the moon,

tea parties with the queen and elves in June,

this is Laura's world.

Then comes the night where dreams abound,

"hush", it's silent all around,

but not in Laura's world!

NURSERY RHYMES:

THREE LITTLE KITTENS

Three little kittens, they lost their mittens,

And they began to cry:

"O mother dear,

We very much fear,

That we have lost our mittens."

Lost your mittens!

You naughty kittens!

Then you shall have no pie.

"Mee-ow, mee-ow, mee-ow."

No, you shall have not pie.

"Mee-ow, mee-ow, mee-ow."

The three little kittens, they

found their mittens,

And they began to cry:

"O mother dear,

See here, see here!

See! we have found our mittens."

Put on your mittens

You silly kittens,

And you may have some pie.

"Purr-r, purr-r, purr-r,

O let us have the pie.

Purr-r, purr-r, purr-r."

The three little kittens put on their mittens,

And soon ate up the pie;

"O mother dear,

We greatly fear,

That we have soiled our mittens."

Soiled your mittens!

You naughty kittens!

Then they began to sigh,

"Mee-ow, mee-ow, mee-ow."

The three little kittens, they washed their mittens,

And hung them out to dry;

"O mother dear,

Do you not hear,

That we have washed our mittens?"

Washed your mittens!

Oh, you're good kittens.

But I smell a mouse close by;

Hush! hush! "Mee-ow, mee-ow.

We smell a mouse close by,

"Mee-ow, mee-ow, mee-ow."

LITTLE JACK HORNER

Little Jack Horner sat in the corner,
Eating his Christmas pie.

He put in his thumb and pulled out a plum,
And said, "What a good boy am I!"

OLD WOMAN

There was an old woman
Went up in a basket
Ninety times as high as the moon,
And where she was going I could not but ask it
For in her hand she carried a broom.

"Old Woman! Old Woman, old woman!" said I,
"Whither, oh whither, oh whither so high?"
"To sweep the cobwebs right out of the sky,
And I'll be with you by and by."

ROCK A BYE, BABY

Rock-a-bye, baby,
thy cradle is green;
Father's a nobleman,
Mother's a queen;

And Betty's a lady,
and wears a gold ring;
And Johnny's a drummer
and drums for the king.

HUMPTY DUMPTY

Humpty-Dumpty sat on a wall,
Humpty-Dumpty had a great fall.

All the king's horses, and all the king's men
Couldn't put Humpty together again.

GOOSIE, GOOSIE

Goosie, goosie, gander
Where do you wander?
Upstairs and downstairs
And in my lady's chamber.

BAA, BAA BLACK SHEEP

Baa, Baa, black sheep,
have you any wool?
Yes sir, yes sir -
three bags full:

One for the master,
one for the dame,
And one for the little boy
that lives in our lane.

LITTLE BOY BLUE

Little Boy Blue, come blow your horn,
The sheep's in the meadow, the cow's in the corn.
Where is the little boy who looks after the sheep?
He's under the haystack, fast asleep.

HARK, HARK!

Hark, Hark, the dogs bark. The beggars are coming to town.
Some in rags and some in tags and some in silken gowns.

Some gave them white bread, and some gave them brown, and
Some gave them a good horsewhip and sent them out of the town.

JACK

Jack be nimble, Jack be quick,

Jack jump over the candlestick.

MARY, MARY

Mary, Mary, quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?

With cockle shells and silver bells
And pretty maids all in a row.

TO MARKET

To market, to market, to buy a fat pig,
Home again, home again, jiggety jig.
To market, to market, to buy a fat hog,
Home again, home again, jiggety jog.
To market, to market, to buy a plum bun,
Home again, home again, market is done.

GEORGIE PORGIE

Georgie Porgie pudding and pie
Kissed the girls and made them cry,
When the girls come out to play
Georgie Porgie runs away.

HICKORY DICKORY

Hickory Dickory dock,
The mouse ran up the clock.
The clock struck one,
The mouse ran down,
Hickory dickory dock.

JOLLY BOYS

We're all jolly boys, and we're coming with a noise,
Our stockings shall be made
Of the finest silk,
And our tails shall touch the ground.

CHILDREN'S STORIES:

CHILDREN'S POETRY FROM OTHER AUTHORS:

THE MONTHS By Sara Coleridge

January brings the snow;

Makes our feet and fingers glow.

February brings the rain;

Thaws the frozen pond again.

March brings wind so cold and chill;

Drives the cattle from the hill.

April brings us sun and showers,

And the pretty wildwood flowers.

May brings grass and leafy trees,

Waving in each gentle breeze.

June brings roses, fresh and fair,

And the cherries, ripe and rare.

July brings the greatest heat,

Cloudless skies and dusty street.

August brings the golden grain;

Harvest time begins again.

Mild September brings us more

fruit and grain, for winter store.

Brown October brings the last

Of ripening gifts, from summer past.

Dull November brings the blast;

Down from the trees the leaves fall fast.

Cold December ends the rhyme

With blazing fires and Chrismas time.

THE END By A.A.Milne

When I was One,

I had just begun.

When I was Two,

I was nearly new.

When I was Three,

I was hardly me.

When I was Four,

I was not much more.

When I was Five,

I was just alive.

But now I am Six, I'm as clever as clever.

So I think I'll be Six now for ever and ever.

THEN By Dorothy Aldis

When you can catch

And throw a ball,

And spell

Cat,

Dog,

And Pig,

Then you have finished

Being small

And started

Being Big.

PIRATE STORY By Robert Louis Stevenson

Three of us afloat

in the meadow

by the swing,

Three of us aboard

in the basket

on the lea.

Winds are in the air,

they are blowing

in the spring;

And waves are on the meadow

like the waves

there are at sea.

OUR MR. TOAD By David McCord

Our Mr. Toad

Has a nice abode

Under the front step.

When it rains he's cool

In a secret pool

Where the water goes

drip

drop

drep.

CITY By Langston Hughes

In the morning the city

Spreads its wings

Making a song

In stone that sings.

In the evening the city

Goes to bed

Hanging lights

About its head.

SINCE HANNA MOVED AWAY By Judith Viorst

The tires on my bike are flat.

The sky is grouchy gray.

At least it sure feels like that

Since Hanna moved away.

Chocolate ice cream tastes like prunes.

December comes to stay.

They've taken back the Mays and Junes

Since Hanna moved away.

Flowers smell like Halibut.

Velvet feels like hay.

Every handsome dog's a mutt

Since Hanna moved away.

Nothing's fun to laugh about.

Nothing's fun to play.

They call me, but I won't come out

Since Hanna moved away.

THE MIDNIGHT FARM By Reeve Lindbergh

Here is the dark when day is done,

Here is the dark with no moon or sun,

Here is the dark when all lights are out,

Here is the heart of the dark.

Here is the dark of the chair in the hall

Where one old dog curls up in a ball,

Breathing each breath with a rise and a fall

In the dark of the chair in the hall.

Here is the dark by the big wood stove

Where two white cats have a leftover glove

And a birthday card that was signed with love

In the dark by the big wood stove.

Here is the dark of the maple tree

Where a raccoon family, one, two, three,

Is making a home in a place that was free

in the dark of the maple tree.

Here is the dark by the barnyard gate

Where four farm geese are staying up late.

They know wild geese will come if they wait

In the dark of the barnyard gate.

Here is the dark of the stable door

Where five horses stamp their feet on the floor

And blow through their noses and stamp some more

In the dark of the stable door.

Here is the dark of the midnight farm,

Safe and still and full and warm,

Deep in the dark and free from harm

In the dark of the midnight farm.

CHILDREN QUOTES:

"You can learn many things from children. How much patience you have, for instance."
-- Franklin P. Adams

" A child is a beam of sunlight from the Infinite and Eternal, with possibilities of virtue and vice -- but as yet unstained."
-- Lyman Abbott

"It's fun being a kid."
-- Bradford Arthur Angier

"A child reminds us that playtime is an essential part of our daily routine."
-- Anonymous

"If you can give your son or daughter only one gift, let it be enthusiasm."
-- Bruce Barton

"The best inheritance a person can give to his children is a few minutes of his time each day "
--O. A. Battista

"The dog was created especially for children. He is the God of frolic."
-- Henry Ward Beecher

"Children require guidance and sympathy far more than instruction."
-- Ambrose Gwinett Bierce

"I don't know any parents that look into the eyes of a newborn baby and say, How can we screw this kid up."
-- Russell Bishop

"The test of the morality of a society is what it does for its children."
-- Dietrich Bonhoeffer

"Children are curious and are risk takers. They have lots of courage. They venture out into a world that is immense and dangerous. A child initially trusts life and the processes of life."
-- John Bradshaw

"Adults are just children who earn money."
-- Kenneth Branaugh

"The only moral lesson which is suited for a child, the most important lesson for every time of life, is this: "Never hurt anybody."
-- Denis Breeze

"There was a time when we expected nothing of our children but obedience, as opposed to the present, when we expect everything of them but obedience."
-- Anatole Broyard

"Live so that when your children think of fairness and integrity, They think of you."
-- H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

"Children have neither a past nor a future. Thus they enjoy the present-- which seldom happens to us."
-- Jean de La Bruyère

"Our children are not going to be just “our children”—they are going to be other people's husbands and wives and the parents of our grandchildren."
-- Mary Steichen Calderone

"The only truly happy people are children and the creative minority."
-- Jean Caldwell

"Adults find pleasure in deceiving a child. They consider it necessary, but they also enjoy it. The children very quickly figure it out and then practice deception themselves."
-- Elias Canetti

"It is good to realize that if love and peace can prevail on earth, and if we can teach our children to honor nature's gifts, the joys and beauties of the outdoors will be here forever."
-- Jimmy Carter

"You must work--- we must all work To make the world worthy of its children."
-- Pablo Casals

"Children have more need of models than of critics."
-- Carolyn Coats

"Imagine a school with children that can read or write, but with teachers who cannot, and you have a metaphor of the Information Age in which we live."
-- Peter Cochrane

"Parents are often so busy with the physical rearing of children that they miss the glory of parenthood, just as the grandeur of the trees is lost when raking leaves."
-- Marcelene Cox

"Children in a family are like flowers in a bouquet: there's always one determined to face in an opposite direction from the way the arranger desires."
-- Marcelene Cox ;0

"You should study not only that you become a mother when your child is born, but also that you become a child."
-- Dogen

"We must teach our children to dream with their eyes open."
-- Harry Edwards

"The pursuit of truth and beauty is a sphere of activity in which we are permitted to remain children all our lives."

"Grown men can learn from very little children for the hearts of little children are pure. Therefore, the Great Spirit may show to them many things which older people miss."
-- Black Elk

"Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself... You may house their bodies but not their souls, for their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams."
-- Kahlil Gibran

"Keep me away from the wisdom that does not cry, the philosophy which does not laugh and the greatness which does not bow before children."
-- Kahlil Gibran

"It is not giving children more that spoils them; it is giving them more to avoid confrontation."
-- John Gray

"Alas! regardless of their doom, the little victims play! No sense have they of ills to come nor care beyond today."
-- Thomas Gray

"Children can be our spiritual teachers if we pay attention."
-- Tobin Hart

"I must say the biggest lesson you can learn in life, or teach your children, is that life is not castles in the skies, happily ever after. The biggest lesson we have to give our children is truth."
-- Goldie Hawn

"There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One is roots; the other, wings."
-- Carter Hodding

VOTE FOR AN NATIVE AMERICAN HOLIDAY

http://www.petitiononline.com/indian/petition.html

"Silence,they say,is the voice of complicity. But silence is impossible. Silence screams. Silence is the message,just as doing nothing is an act. Let who you are ring out and resonate in every word and deed. Yes,become who you are. There's no sidestepping your own being or your own responsibility. What you do is who you are. You are your own comeuppance. You become your own message. You are the message. In the Spirit of Crazy Horse."
Leonard Peltier~ U.S. Federal Prisoner #89637-132

"A thing of beauty is a joy forever: Its loveliness increases; it will never pass into nothingness; but still will keep a bower quiet for us, and a sleep full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing."--John Keats