Contest sponsored by Nette Onclaud
25/06/25
Puddle-jump stomp step.
Squeals of joy – can’t stop.
Little kids frolic in a gumboot dance!
Plip plop!
Drip... drop... drip!
Categories:
gumboot, children, dance, rain,
Form: Other
If you wander into your local school or preschool,
What are the odds of spotting even a single pair of gumboots,
And does it matter if you find none.
If you think it no,
Then fast forward to their teenage years,
Look at how many are wearing Jackboots,
And not giving two hoots about anything,
Unless it is connected to the virtual world,
Then give me the answer that matters.
Having never been without a pair of gumboots,
Splashing in puddles second nature,
Rain no obstacle when I wish to walk or sing.
A mud pie making king,
Dry socks always in stock,
Adventures all year round,
Never bored,
Always grateful,
To mum and Dad,
For giving me the right kind of boots.
For those without gumboots,
There may yet be hope,
If enough letters go to the Minister of Education,
In favor of Gumboots being part of school uniforms,
So, once again the sound of children splashing through puddles can be heard,
And teenagers can once again be seen wearing the right kind of boots,
For life in the real world.
Categories:
gumboot, appreciation, baptism, blessing, character,
Form: Light Verse
On Taddie Clyde the Barnsley broke,
In gumboot made of tin.
We cast the hour that gently stroke
And all who sail within.
Through faulty eyeballs thick with sleep
We watch the mackerel crow,
And gather up the blunderbuss
In rain or frozen snow.
Bad apple from an orchard grew,
Its Clinton hung like grapes
And dangled from our Derek’s thumb
To shally-up the stakes.
His dream lived as an aftertaste,
Its wistful hands reside,
Breaks silent on some other shore
And mourns the ebbless tide.
Categories:
gumboot, nonsense,
Form: Rhyme
O tell me about a snoddy gumboot
Of a soul; black as Guiness -
A drinker of dirty water; a wordsmith,
A conjurer and fumbler; bearer of
Levity and pork sausages, a stout
Fellow with the learning as big as
The Cork and Kerry Mountains;
You thrown-out words of Dublin...
Categories:
gumboot, poetry, poets,
Form: Free verse
Gumboot heroes
splashing in the rain
two caped crusaders
bring the challenge on
wagon wheels in their pockets
a nickel buys the day
hide and seek
the adventure that we play
double dog dare ya
to be as brave
…as me
a budding buccaneer
swathed with yellow gumboots
a princess with a tiara demands purple
but then she is only four
stand by you forever
spit and hope to die
your word is your bond
what else do you have to give
double dog dare ya
to jump as high
…as me
no puddle ever too deep
no dream ever too far
a promise is a promise
don’t ja know don’t ja know
two untouched treasures
priceless trust and innocence
best friends forever
what else would best friends
…possibly be
IRISH
Categories:
gumboot, childhooddog, dog,
Form: Free verse