After Kindy
little kids
wait with mums
at the big kids’ school:
Chat-time,
there and back time;
big-tree shade,
dust and long leaves,
water in cages –
shiny bubblers,
hot black play-ground,
bench-seats
low down.
Liz is back and sobbing,
Mum says, ‘What’s the matter?
Wipe the tears.
Blow the nose.’
‘I can’t hold water,’ Lizzie cries.
‘We’re making mud,’ says Bella.
‘Oh,’ says Lizzie’s Mum.
‘Oh,’ says Bella’s Mum.
The mums frown.
‘You have to put water
in your mouth,’ says Liz.
‘And spit it,
on the dirt,’ says Bella.
‘Oh,’ say the mums.
Mums don’t make magic
in play-ground dust.
Kids do.
Drips of water
from their mouths:
dust kicking
water strings,
mixed up
with fingers
into mud
with gumnut people
jumping in,
and leaf crocodiles
snapping.
Categories:
kindy, childhood, imagination,
Form: Imagism
I seek it here, seek it there
I cannot find this L word anywhere
L is the start of many words
Some of which are never heard
When going to kindy or at school
Is it because L isn't cool
Like Lancelot and Lalawithika
(I don't think that names a sticker)
Lalawithika, what a handle
It does not hold a candle
To other names like Milton
Milton, who lived at the Hilton
With his parents and brother, Mel
Milton's first name began with L
Perhaps L. Milton is too shy
To let us into his secret why
He does not use this letter, so
We may never know
Why Milton will not tell
Milt's reply:
LOL, Shirley. I'm glad I inspired you to write a poem. Okay, so I've never been called by my first name, even in childhood. My first name was the name of a rich old uncle who died and left me nothing.....what were my parents thinking? I've always been called "Milt" or "Hank" (in the military). Please feel free to call me "Milt" and resign yourself to never knowing what the L stands for. LOL
My reply:
So pleased the poem made you smile, Milt...Give my regards to your brother Mel. Thank goodness L will always remain unknown to me now. LOL...
I wrote this in May last year.
Categories:
kindy, 10th grade,
Form: Rhyme
I seek it here, seek it there
I cannot find this L word anywhere
L is the start of many words
Some of which are never heard
When going to kindy or at school
Is it because L isn't cool
Like Lancelot and Lalawithika
(I don't think that names a sticker)
Lalawithika what a handle
It does not hold a candle
To other names like Milton
Milton who lived at the Hilton
With his parents and brother Mel
Milton's first name began with L
Perhaps L. Milton is too shy
To let us into his secret why
He does not use this letter, so
We may never know
Why Milton will not tell
Categories:
kindy, 10th grade,
Form: Rhyme
Hey Mummy, hey daddy
Guess what I got today.
A headful of headaches
Are coming your way
My best friend at kindy
She gave me a gift
Lots of them, actually
They move and they shift
They are really athletic
They jump really high
They come and they stay
No need to say bye
They make me dance
My best friend is so nice
I couldn't wait to tell you
That she gave me lice!
Categories:
kindy, animal, funny, kid, kindergarten,
Form: Rhyme
How I Got Started
I had to write a poem for Nick
His kindy teacher said I should
Hummed and hawed, prevaricated
Before deciding that I would
Miss Fordyce was so enchanted
She read it out to all the class
Didn't know the seed she planted
It's growing now like mondo grass
I’d read a little bit of Burns
In school it was compulsory
Never paid too much attention
It never seemed to interest me
Spent many years without knowing
The wonder written words expose
The problem is my ignorance
I can't tell poetry from prose
I know not of techniques and terms
The rules of rhythm and of rhyme
I only know the sounds that please
And hope to learn them all in time
Some words that I have never heard
Iambic? haiku? what are these?
As far as my poor brain can tell
They’re double Dutch or Japanese
But I feel I’m slowly learning
By seeing what the friends portray
On this site of clever poets
And think that I am here to stay
Written: Margaret Foster: march 2010
Contest: What brought you to poetry. Dec 2011
sponsor:Michael J Falotico
Categories:
kindy, on writing and words,
Form: Rhyme