Saturday, November 29, 2014

Summer Wonderland


Sleigh bells ring
Are you listening?
On the beach
Sand is glistening
Beautiful rays
We’re happy today
Basking in a summer wonderland

Towels laid out, sun cream gleaming
Togs are bright, smiles are beaming
We squeal in the sun
Splashing up fun
Basking in a summer wonderland

In the morning we can build a castle
And pretend a dragon lives inside
He’ll say “Roar!”, fire blasting from his nostrils
We’ll scream “Aagh!” and run like we can fly

Later on
While the ham bakes
We’ll share slices of mum’s fruit cake
Eat a mince pie
A satisfied sigh
Basking in a summer wonderland

In the morning we can build a castle
And pretend we’re princesses so fine
We’ll have lots of fun with our big castle
Placing all our shells in one long line

When the sun
Finally goes down
We can see
Lights around town
We’ll frolic and play – the great Aussie way
Basking in a summer wonderland

A beautiful sight – we’re happy tonight
Basking in a summer wonderland


Haiku



Saturday's treasure
Crab claws and floating measure
Was time together


Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Hungry Caterpillar

I know he's in there somewhere
sleeping in the shade
hiding from the summer heat
on long, hot sunny days

And as the sun dips slowly
rays bending out of sight
he stretches out his body
ready for a night

Of munching beauteous basil
crunching tasty thyme
chewing perky parsley
and chomping on my chives

A four-course herby dinner
a feast of salad greens
fills up his caterpillar tummy
fueling daytime dreams

Friday, October 10, 2014

Do You Want To Build A Castle?

Do you wanna build a castle?
Come on, let’s go and play!
I haven’t seen you here before
So will you stay?
Let’s be best friends today

I’m really glad to meet you
And now we can
Build towers that reach the sky!

Do you wanna build a castle?
A super-duper-special castle?

Do you wanna build a castle?
And dig a moat around the sides?
I think some sand piled here will make it clear
That something beautiful will very soon reside!

The beach is sometimes lonely
With no friends to play
Just watching the grains drift by…
Do you wanna build a castle?


Saturday, October 4, 2014

Out walking

Our family walks are always interesting...

We raced along
sticks stuffed in back
of trailing grubby shirts
dust flying up
as feet kicked rocks
along the path of dirt
Hurry!” we cried
much faster now
air sucked in quick and deep
lungs bursting over distance
the trail becoming steep

The shadow we were chasing
was flitting in and out
of gnarled and broken tree trunks
then “Quickly!” with a shout
we pounced and drew our swords
blades waving in the air
Come out from where you’re hiding!
Come out from under there!”

And out he crept from darkness
held beneath a rock
great size and sudden hairiness
enough to give a shock
swords pointed bravely forward
ready for a fight
then “BOO!” came from that shadow
Dad laughing at our fright.


Note: this poem was the featured "Poem of the Day" 
on the Australian Children's Poetry website here

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Sandcastle

Watch this!” I cried
my bucket tipped
sand slamming on the shore
red, shiny, plastic cover
revealing something more

A sandcastle!” I squealed again
jumping on two feet
Come on! Let’s make another!”
a sandy, castle-y fleet

With walls that tower tall
and tunnels dug out deep
a flowing moat surrounds
the precious castle keep

Stick doors that lead to dungeons
where in his kelp-lined bed
lies a sleepy dragon
smoke swirling ‘round his head

Sharp crab legs stuck for claws
pointed shells for teeth
a pair of rubber flippers
slid under for his feet

And nestled at the end
of roughened, scaly tail
a jagged piece of plastic
from someone’s water pail

We tip-toed past so softly
not wanting to disturb
the beast we had created
in a castle most superb


Thursday, July 31, 2014

Beachcombing


Beachcombing is an exciting activity in the winter.
So many interesting objects wash up on the shore to find.
We could easily do this all day.


outer shelled armour
scuttles on rocky surfaces
hiding in dark cracks

silently waving
tentacles cautiously curl
back under a rock

tangled strands of kelp
decorations on the sand
tickle my feet

little blue balloons
carried to the shore
afloat a wave

shiny spiraled homes
nothing living now inside
a lucky find


Friday, July 18, 2014

What do I see?




Hiking on a dirt track, what do I see?
Black cockatoos are squawking in trees

Hiking on a dirt track, what do I see?
Weedy bunny tails are growing so free

Hiking on a dirt track, what do I see?
Giant seed pods – eyes looking at me

Hiking on a dirt track, what do I see?
Thick, roughened bark like scales on a tree

Hiking on a dirt track, what do I see?
Spiky desert flowers, a prickle or three


Hiking on a dirt track, what do you see?





Friday, July 11, 2014

Winter Haikus

Winter here is up and down.
Sun shining in clear blue skies one day.
Showers bucketing down the next.
Smiles beaming as we run on the beach.
Hope glimmering through rain-beaten windows.
An unsteady season.


Blankets wrap the sun
Earth’s coldness in grey shadow
Warmth swelling within.

Sunrays find a crack
Light exploding like diamonds
Summer in charade.

Leaves fall dry and brown
Naked branches withered, cold
We huddle closer.

Storm clouds roll slowly
Over choppy ocean waves
Awash with the new.


Thursday, June 12, 2014

Ladybird, ladybird

Ladybird, ladybird
Where have you been?
I’ve been exploring
Some faraway scenes

Ladybird, ladybird
What brings you here?
Sounds of jaws munching
On leaves that are dear

Ladybird, ladybird
What will you do?
I’ll eat them all up!
Not one – but a few!

I’ll chew them
And chomp them
For breakfast and lunch

I’ll scoff them
And scarf them
A late morning brunch

I’ll nibble them
And nosh them
Gobble and devour
And polish them off
By the late evening hour

Ladybird, ladybird
My stems are all clean!
Not an aphid in sight
In this rose garden green


Saturday, May 24, 2014

A Rainy Walk


Boots pulled up high
coats buttoned tight
we set off down the road
while rain fell in light showers
and gutter rivers flowed

Balancing, arms stretched out  w i d e
we walked along the bank
toes skimming puddle edges
deep water at our flank

"Watch out!" I cried
"Go slowly now!
We can't fall in the river!"
The unseen heads of crocodiles
a danger where they loiter

We tip toe past
and tip toe on
further down the bank
watching ripples forming
as tiny pebbles sank

I stop just there and take his hand
unsure of seas ahead
knowing that those sneaky crocs
could leap just where we tread

We tip toe past
and tip toe on
his hand held tight in mine
as long as we're together
I'm sure we'll be just fine

We tip toe past
and tip toe on
'til quietly we stop

crouching near the puddle

peering through each drop

watching very carefully

staring at that spot

that spot just on the surface

where bubbles seemed to pop

And suddenly it leapt right up
and launched out of the puddle!
teeth gnashing fast
in snapping jaws
towards our screaming huddle!

I grabbed his hand
held extra tight
and ran on down the bank
away from crocodile danger
away from - then it yanked!

His boot stuck in the puddle
his socked foot wet and cold
the croc had knocked his shoe off!
I squeezed him, feeling bold

"Don't worry - I'll go get it!
I'm not scared of that croc!
And if he tries to eat me,
I'll throw this great big rock!"

And so I tip toed back now
to get that little boot
and once I'd fished it out
we left that fearsome brute!



Monday, May 19, 2014

The Night Sky


We visited the Perth Observatory one night.
And it was unforgettable.


When the night is dark
and the lights turned off
and you stand very quietly
(not even a cough)

You can see the stars
way up in the sky
and watch them sparkle
with your naked eye

Mars glows orange-
almost red
rising over tree tops
moving ahead

Shivering, we watch it
glowing so bright
Where is it going
on this cold dark night?

The telescopes housed
in white domed rooms
can see even further
with their powerful zoom

The moon up close
is rugged in parts
mountain ranges
a jagged path

Dark maria seas
lay flat and smooth
(but there’s no water-
and that’s the truth!)

And in between
from here to there
are craters deep
where no repair

From impacts fierce
as asteroids hit
as burning comets
and meteorite bits

Find a lunar target
so quiet and still
no winds to blow
and erase the spill

Of lunar dust
and solid debris
that’s left all scattered
in the story we see.


For more information on the Perth Observatory and the night sky tours they offer, click here.


Thursday, May 8, 2014

The Dugong

On our recent trip to the Ningaloo, 
we were fortunate enough to see a dugong - 
the first we'd ever seen in the wild.

swish, swish, chomp
swish, swish, chomp

the gentle dugong
grazed slowly on the grass
fronds waving in the sea
water clear as glass

swish, swish, chomp
swish, swish, chomp

bristled snout aquiver
surrounded by this lunch
roughened lips are ready
to grasp and crunch and munch

swish, swish, chomp
swish, swish, chomp

six long minutes pass
tummy full of greens
the timid herbivore
sticks snout above to breathe

woooosh

Is that a… ?

shhhhhhh!

safe back underwater
grass plentiful to chew
this quiet dugong
finds a home in the Ningaloo

swish, swish, chomp
swish, swish, chomp


Sunday, May 4, 2014

Road Trip (Part 2)

We have recently returned from a road trip.
We drove from Perth to Exmouth and back in eight days.
Northern WA is a beautiful and amazing place - 
teeming with wildlife (both on land and in the ocean)
and picturesque landscapes, it's a trip we will always remember!


At Coral Bay
up with the sun
we came across a roo
and in her pouch, 
nose sticking out
a joey – peek-a-boo!

We walked along
the wall of sand
right up to Skeleton Bay
Shallow crystal waters
where reef sharks love to play

Back down again
bay’s southern end
brimming with fish of colours
Large emperor fish
swam up to greet
while wading in the shallows

Fins and snorkels donned by all
we weaved among the coral
‘til afternoon crept warmly in
and it was time to travel

Further north we drove along
land flat with heated red
Splashing through the floodways
rich brown muddy beds

And finally we reached it
twelve hundred k’s away
This little place called Exmouth
in far north WA

Sun beating through the dust
wild emus roaming free
The Ningaloo’s famous whale sharks-
that’s what we came to see!


PS. Swimming with the whale sharks in the Ningaloo was an awesome experience! 
A separate poem about the whale shark can be found here.


Saturday, May 3, 2014

Road Trip (Part 1)

We have recently returned from a road trip.
We drove from Perth to Exmouth and back in eight days.
Northern WA is a beautiful and amazing place - 
teeming with wildlife (both on land and in the ocean)
and picturesque landscapes, it's a trip we will always remember!


Let’s drive up North
land vast and wide
and see what we can find-
Road flat and straight
one lane each way
no twists or turns to wind

Tiny towns few and far
stone churches built like castles
Northampton greets large bearded men
on bikes – grinning like rascals

Miles stretch out
scrub flat and dry
goats play in rich red dirt
Billabong with ice-block sticks –
a welcome cold dessert

Carnarvon greets us late that day
banana big and yellow
A walk ‘long One Mile Jetty
the evening clear and mellow

We rise again
and face the north
unsure what we will see
Rains further up have closed the roads
now covered with debris

A brand new plan
with detour trips
finds us at Quobba Point
Blowholes firing upwards - 
nothing to disappoint!

Cooling off with snorkels in
rainbows of fish surround
Sparkling schools
dance past our masks
eyes wide at what we’d found!

We stayed a while
in paradise
‘til north beckoned once more
then made our way to Coral Bay - 
tropical fish galore!