Nature Journal

This is for my daughter.

Who records everything.

I have a little journal

with pages smooth and white

where I can draw some pictures

and underneath them write

words that can describe

the creatures that we see

while walking through the bush land

and weaving through the trees

words that list the colours

of flowers we discover

(including all the weedy ones

picked by my little brother)

words that tell a story

of wriggly things we find-

like the squirmy, wiggling earthworm

(we left him safe behind)

I like to do some sketches

showing different kinds of leaves-

I trace around their edges

then tuck them in the sleeve

One time I found a millipede

curled in a spiral shape

but my pencil must have tickled him-

he was suddenly awake!

My favourite things to draw

are pictures of the sky-

rainbows  r e a c h i n g  outwards

and clouds that float on by

And when each entry’s finished

I put my book away

safely in the cupboard

‘til we next go out and play

Honey Bees

I wrote this for my son.

Who quietly watched some bees at work.

bzzz bzzz hmmm

bzzz bzzz hmmm

a tiny honey bee

was looking for a spot

a place where she could sit

a seat so nice and soft

bzzz bzzz hmmm

bzzz bzzz hmmm

the little honey bee

gently hovered closely to

a pretty scented blossom

with petals seeming blue

bzzz bzzz hmmm

bzzz bzzz hmmm

sweet nectar in its centre

this spot seemed just the place

for the tiny honey bee

to land with buzzing grace

bzzz bzzz hmmm

bzzz bzzz hmmm

gathering up the nectar

sweet, sticky and so runny

she fills her special stomach

all ready to make honey

bzzz bzzz hmmm

bzzz bzzz hmmm

returning to the hive

the busy honey bee

drops off her load of nectar

for other worker bees to see

bzzz bzzz hmmm

bzzz bzzz hmmm

but just before she rests

there’s one more thing to do

back on her pretty flower

she sets to work – ado!

bzzz bzzz hmmm

bzzz bzzz hmmm

she moves with elegant speed

filling baskets on her legs

with tiny bits of pollen

grains of orange and of red

bzzz bzzz hmmm

bzzz bzzz hmmm

as a special thank-you

she lands again nearby

and gives some extra pollen

to pistils growing high

bzzz bzzz hmmm

bzzz bzzz hmmm

the pollen in the basket

is mixed with honey sweet

and given to the larvae-

a yummy treat to eat!

bzzz bzzz hmmm

bzzz bzzz hmmm

bzzz bzzz

Rolling

The grass was fresh and green

Dew sparkling on blade tips

We smiled and held hands tight-

to the top we promptly skipped

Resting on the ground

Repose with arms  s t r e t c h e d  up

We gazed into the sky-

blue as the richest sapphire cut

Breathing air in deep

Tiny wriggles of fingers and toes

We slowly counted to three-

eyes squeezed tight to close

Over and

Over and

    Over we went

From blue and then to green

From azure lights and wisps of cloud

To earthy damp and clean

Over and

Over and

    Over we went

‘til suddenly we stopped.

Flushed and rosy-cheeked we grinned

Laid on the plane we’d flopped

Laughing still we looked up high

The crest beckoning once again

We ran this time - legs moving fast-

 Over and

 Over and

     Over we rolled

 Over and

Over   

 and then…

Swinging

This poem is for my son who loves to swing.

Higher! Higher!

I’m soaring over trees!

Gliding over branches

thick with emerald leaves.

Higher! Higher!

I can almost touch the sky!

I think I saw an aeroplane

with bright red wings race by.

Higher! Higher!

I see the moon up close!

Its surface marked with craters

and dark, solid lava flow.

Higher! Higher!

Into space I go!

Comets zooming past me;

stars sparkle, planets glow.

Higher! Higher!

My rocket swings me up!

‘til at the top I fall again

in one almighty drop!

Higher! Higher!

… please?