a toddler dances
wiggling his bottom
to music, wind chimes, bird speak
a toddler giggles and jiggles his way through life
feeling the world’s joy
like no other
as a toddler she had no filters at all
her emotions were about sixty-thousand feet tall
when she was happy, she surrounded the world with happy
when she was upset or angry, her pouting was mean and snappy
as a toddler, her emotions were all over her face
She could have never played poker, she had no even pace
you knew in a second whether she was sunshine or rain
today has been filled with pouting, there has been no refrain
jocularity
jovial merry mirth
brought to you by a toddler
free of charge
changing the ambiance of the room
even the roses felt less funeral-like
Zany antics from two-year old.
Never a dull moment in this household.
Non-stop entertainment for whole family.
Wordku: 5-7-5 words
AP: Honorable Mention 2025
I’m thinking of a person
Who is strong and resilient.
Big in personality but size is small.
When mad, they turn a green pigment.
All is lost when anger worsens.
Tantrums raging, escalating.
Tired now, limbs in a sprawl.
I’m talking about toddler phasing,
A daily battle of exertion.
pink corduroy jumper
bouncy curls, blue ribbons
toddler in training
Toddler singing songs
Almost all the words are wrong
Fierce spirit so strong
At that moment born poet
Creating words notes and hopes
Cold blue tile is the foundation from which two children build their world.
This airport has seen thousands upon thousands of feet touching its ground,
but their travel-weary weight is erased
as toddlers run, screaming joyfully, over top.
Laughter bubbles from their tiny pink lips,
and I find I can’t help but join in.
Snow-blond hair and a green dino hoodie.
These are the hallmarks of those who herald cheer into the world,
though they’re not yet conscious of anything but their next step forward.
Hold tight to your vibrant visions of castles and ships for as long as you can, little ones.
Your light is precious. May it not be fleeting.
TODDLER CLUB
Higgledy Piggledy, here we sit
All are fidgeting just a little bit
And a giggle, however cursory
We are all here at the nursery
Look around, to left and right
Try smiling, and they just might
Waving your hand to say hello
It isn’t so long now until we go
Then all of us can say goodbye
Until tomorrow, but me oh my
If left here alone, I’ll be in a fix
To sit alone among these bricks
Legos and marbles
Tiny robotic pieces
Danger to toddler
He carries wheel in mouth
Spits it out during bath time
Sitting with Winnie
Running from MiMi in polka dots
Makes me giggle at haughty tots
Who don’t want to use their potty pots.
I’m now thinking of tequila shots
And other things I oughta nots.
~ Judy Bausch
There’s glue in my plug sockets
Chewed pasta in my pockets
Lollipops always stuck under my shelf
Oh my love, you are a naughty little elf
Crayons and paint colour the dogs bed
And again, today, another bruise on your head
Where, this time, have you put my other shoe?
And please stop throwing the lid for the glue
Yet again, there’s a dinosaur in your potty
And why is your face constantly snotty?
The rubbish bins will never be your toys
Oh my gosh, the wonderful wildness of boys
Bending down one more time, will mean I won’t get up
Oh my darling, you are a mucky little pup
A toddler in a stroller passed
And, looking at her face,
It seemed to me that she was
Merely staring into space.
Which made me wonder – could it be
She’d nothing on her mind?
If not, and I could read her thoughts,
What musings would I find?
I wish I had a lollipop.
I need some better toys.
My pre-school class has way too many
Mean and nasty boys.
My lunch today was yucky.
Why does Mommy have to work?
And why did Daddy come home mad
And call his boss a jerk?
I know, I might be way off base.
Perhaps within that stare
Were thoughts of all the happy things
She couldn’t wait to share.
he wore a green hat with a red flower
he was my bestie, and I adored him
the first person I saw in the morning
my bestie, Wiggly Worm
there were three creatures hanging off him
two bugs and a butterfly
they all three had enormous smiles
they made my day in their vibrant colors
I loved them so when I was two years young
she had allergies to grass so we brought the garden inside
attaching one flower at a time to the wall, so she could see them
she was careful as she examined them one by one
giggling as she gingerly touched them in no order
she will eat them, her grandpa predicted
but she did not, she caressed them
a barefooted toddler ballerina who loved floral
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