In 1986 a member of the Massachusetts State Poetry Society (MSPS) and the Haverhill Poets, Edith Karelis, asked the MSPS members to write children's poems that children might select and do a drawing around after which the Haverhill Public Library would display the poems and corresponding drawings. Edith also managed to get a grant to house these creations in books that were to be given to various Haverhill schools. Since I had not previously focused on writing children's poems, I found this an interesting challenge and one that I rather liked. Many of the children who participated picked a lot of my poems to draw to and I was fortunate to see many of the drawings and poems displayed. Also got in the mood to write more in 2013 trying to think again like a child twenty-seven years later.
MY CAT
My cat she often
leaves the house
and wanders off
to catch a mouse.
CAMPING
I like to camp
by river stream
and lie under
the stars to dream.
ACORNS
How do squirrels
know where to find
the acorns they buried
in autumn time?
BAD SMELL
Somebody stinks
I wonder who?
Baby brother
it must be you!
FIREFLIES
O, fireflies, fireflies
sparkling so bright
can you find a way
to lend me your light?
RAINBOW
A rainbow is
a brilliant hue
red, orange, yellow,
green and blue.
I see one sometimes
in the far beyond
after a dark
and rainy storm.
Legend has it
that a pot of gold
is left by a gnome
for a special soul.
At the end of the
rainbow in the light
for a child who has
learned wrong from right.
THE SPANKING
My clothes were strewn
all over the floor,
so I got a spanking
till my behind was sore.
UNDER THE TREE
I yelled at my friend
to come and see
the snake I caught
under the tree.
SAND CASTLE
My sand castle
is very tall
but one big wave
and it will fall.
PETS
I run with my dog
I snooze with my cat
but what can one do
with a baby rat?
NEVER
Never say never
it's always proved wrong
man's gone to the moon
and will go beyond.
TIME MANAGEMENT
I can count 1, 2, 3
and write A, B, C
spell my name
play a game
and still have time
for you and me.
TALE OF A TAIL
My doggy's got
the cutest tail -
when he's happy
it wags all around,
but when he's sad
it drops to the ground;
it thumps on the floor
when he sits and plays
but rises up
when he kneels to pray;
it's like a banner,
like a mast,
I do hope my doggy's
tail will last!
A HORROR MOVIE
A horror movie
gives me the chills
but it's one of
my greatest thrills.
TIME OFF
I wish I may
I wish I might
not have to wash
a dish tonight.
IGLOO
We built an igloo
after the snowstorm
and now all my friends
treat it like a dorm.
BABIES
If babies weren't
so very cute
who would keep them
with the messes they do?
ANIMAL IFS
"Quack," said the duck
"quack, quack, quack;
if I had some bread,
I would treat it like a snack."
"Meow," said the cat,
"meow, meow;
if I had some milk,
I would drink it up now."
"Woof," said the dog,
"woof, woof, woof;
if I had some meat
I would make it go poof!"
"Oink," said the pig,
"oink, oink, oink;
if I had some garbage,
I'd love this joint."
"Screech," said the owl,
"screech, screech;
if I had a mouse,
I'd make it my feast."