poetry book 1

8/8/2019 Poetry Book 1

1/28

Choose A Cloud .

And other rhyming poems for children of all ages.

Elizabeth Underwood


2/28

1

Contents

Title Page Number

Choose a Cloud 2

Cleaning Rainbows 3

The Prickly Path to Love 4

Wally the Wacky Wizard 6

Big Scissors 8

Snowy Love 9

Felicity Frys Magic Dream Pie 12Infinity Peak 15

Queen of the Rainbow Patch 17

Troubles and Bubbles 19

Dragon Baby 21

White Kite 22

Why is it so? How can it be? 23

No fish for Hamish 24

Lonely Jessica Jones 25


3/28

2

Choose a Cloud

Which sort of cloud would you choose for a ride? A soft, whitemarshmallow one comfy inside?Deftly drifting through gently blown blue,

Warmed by the glow of the sun seeping through.Birdsong flutes and fluttering feathers,

Musical magic mingling heavenly treasures. A slow and sleepy carefree glide,

The whitest fluffiest, cottonwool ride.

Or perhaps youd rather have more fun?Choose the thunderous raincloud that boots out the sun?

A riotous, rollicking ride full of frightWith tossing and tumbling tricks, hold on tight!

Riotous rips of thunderclap clashes,Fiery brightness of lightning flashes.

A frantic, unforgiving race, Are you brave enough, can you take the pace?

So which will it be, which cloud will you choose? A daredevil dash or somnolent snooze?Stop what youre doing and go outside,

Look up to the skies and choose your ride!


4/28

3

Cleaning Rainbows

I remember a lady from when I was smallShe was spiky and spindly and ever so tall.

They called this lady Molly MopShe worked in the Churchall day non-stop.Every corner and crevice was dusted and cleanedShe polished the silver til it sparkled and gleamed.

Each speck of dust swept from the floor When shed finished her work, shed do some more.

My mother once asked why she worked all dayScrubbing and sweeping for such poor pay.

I dont care about money, she quickly replied,It cant give you happiness, passion or pride.

I do this work, so that I can be sure,Ill get the top job when I knock on His door.

Im going to keep the rainbows clean,Thats always been my lifetime dream.

Ill touch up the colours if they start to fade And keep the rainbow glowing when its hides in the shade.

When the day is over and Im feeling really proudIll rest my weary head on a soft cushion cloud.

My mother was bemused by the things Molly said,She left the church quickly, shaking her head.

But when I see the colours stretched across the sky,I think of Molly Mop cleaning rainbows way up high.


5/28

4

The Prickly Path to Love

Henry the Hedgehog hated his pricklesHe longed for smooth skin to be stroked and feel tickles.

He detested his pointy, piercing spikes,They were number one on his list of dislikes.He watched with envy the squirrels and mice

With their silky fur so soft and nice.Seeing the rabbits cuddling up close

He was jealous and lonely, most morose.He spent his days wondering what he had doneTo deserve these prickles, no cuddles, no fun.

He trudged on through life each day more boringSpending his time sadly sleeping and snoring.

Resigned to a lonely life without hugsHed cheer himself up with some tasty slugs.

As he neared his usual slug hunting groundHe was stopped by a snuffling, slurping sound. Another hedgehog had got there before first,

Blimey! Could life really get any worse?When the rival hedgehog turned to look

Henrys prickles pricked up, his body shook.

She was surely the prettiest hedgehog around? A soft little face and eyes chocolate brown.

Looking nervous and shy she stammered and stutteredBut Henry was deaf to all that she uttered.

He was completely overcome,The loved up hedgehog now struck dumb.He came to his senses and acted quickly,Spluttered apologies for being so prickly.I know you probably dont want to know

But is there a chance we could give it a go?


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5

I may not be sleek and smooth to the touchBut I love you already, oh so much.Blushing he waited for her to reply

She started to laugh, he wanted to cry.Of course, he knew she could never have liked

A stupid old hedgehog, so heavily spiked.His sad face dropped, his nose hit the ground

He knew he should go and turned around.Where are you going? He heard her cry,

Weve only just met, and youre saying good bye,

Im not laughing at you, you silly dopeLook at me closely, youll see the joke.

Prickles, you say...youve got just a few,Take a look silly, Ive got more than you!

She gazed at him softly and came up closeNuzzling his face with her velvety nose.Henry was dumbstruck, it took a while

Then he nuzzled her back and started to smile.They celebrated their love with juicy slugs,Then wandered off sharing prickly hugs.


7/28

6

W ally the W acky W izard

Wally the wacky wizardWobbled when he walked.

His legs were weirdly wiggly

And he dribbled when he talked.His eyes were cold and icyFixed in a frosty stare.

He lived alone in a crumbling house,Seemingly unaware.

So why did people love him?Why the long the queue at his gate? A trail of desperate people yelling

'Wait, please Wally, wait!'Well Wally had the coolest trick,

A gift he could impart,He alone in the whole wide world

Could mend a broken heart.

They came from every cityTo plead their tragic cases.

Teary-eyed and runny-nosed,Such sad and sorry faces.

But not all would go home happyFor Wally had strict rules.

He asked them all a questionBefore dishing out his cures.

Tell me, he would, say,In his creaky croaky way,

Before I give my gift to you, Are you always honest, good and true?

I'm a wizard remember, I'll know if you lie,Think very hard before you reply.


8/28

7

Those who didnt pass his testWent home their dreams in tatters,Heads held low theyd never forget

That being good, it matters.The others left with the sweetest sound.

Singing in their ears.The joyful beat of a mended heart,

Goodbye to sorrow and tears.


9/28

8

B ig Scissors

I wish I could cut a big hole in the sky

Releasing sweet angels to soar and fly.Id watch the flocks of butterfliesMaking colourful clouds across the skies.

I wonder how far Id be able to seeThrough the hole in the sky, made just by me?

Would I see heaven, the planets and stars,Perhaps little green aliens going to Mars?

When Id finished looking throughId go on the hunt for the strongest glue.

Id seal up the hole, really tight,To keep in the monsters and things of the night!


10/28

9

Snowy Love

Sam and Grace were twelve and eightIt was Sunday evening, and much too late.

Weekend over, school in the morning

Up to bed tired, grumpy and yawning.Whenthey woke the next day disbelief in their eyesThe whitest most wonderous gift from the skies.

Inch upon inchof sugary snowPiled high in the garden, the plants far below.'Oh well', said Mum, 'you can go out to play,

I've just had a message, there's no school today'.

They wolfed down their breakfast as fast as they couldThen scrambled for gloves and a coat with a hood.

Scarves, socks and welliesall kitted outThey opened the door running out with a shout.

Snowballs and sledges flew everywhere,They had fun in the snow for hours not a care.

Tired and soggy with fingers numb,Time for hot soup in a bowl and a bun.

Warmed by lunch, they went out with a planToeach build their biggest and best snowman.

They worked in silence their hands red rawMaking two snow people by the back door.Sam made a man who was round and fat,

Grace made a lady wearing a hat.With soggy gloves and everything frozen

Mum called them in to put warm dry clothes on.They studied their work from out of the window,

Two icy white bodies made out of snow.The snowman and snowladystanding together

Huddling up close in the cruellest cold weather.


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10

The snow didn't stop, it went on for ever Growing bigger the snow pair came closer together.

The children gazed from their bedroom aboveThinking the snow couple must be in love.They stared at them standing side by side,

Grace got upset, 'they'll be gone soon', she cried.She hated the thought of the snow couple going

And prayed with her heart that it kept on snowing.When the work of winter was finally done

The children awoke to the warmth of the sun.

They looked through the window dismayed by the scene,Where there'd been white now there was green.

And by the back door where the snow friends had beenWas nothing at all, had it all been a dream?

The children were sad they both really fearedThat their two loving snow people had disappeared.

But their mother of course, always knew better She charged up the stairs clutching a letter.

'Children, children, look what I've got,It was by the back door, shoved under a pot'.

Sam grabbed the note and started to speak,His voice sounding tearful, wobbly and weak.'To our friends,' he read, 'Who made us be,

We have not gone, we are just free.We have run away to be together

No matter what season, time or weather.Thank you for making us, now we must go

To a place that only snowmen know.We're happy together, and who knows, but maybe,

One day we'll have a little snow baby.'


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11

The children were stunned and had nothing to sayBut thought of their snowman and lady all day.

And every winter after the letter They made lots of snowmen, the more the better.

Crowds of icy figures frozen on the lawn,The children wondering if theyd be there at dawn.

And when they melted in the warmth the sun broughtSam and Grace were cheered with the happiest thought.

Their beautiful snow people playing together,Happy forever whatever the weather.


13/28

1 2

F elicity F ry's Magic Dream Pie

A fine old lady named Felicity Fry

Was famed in the village for her magic Dream Pie.This scrumptious treat so tempting to eatWas squidgy and spongy and sickly sweet.

Crammed full of chocolate and toffee so chewyIt was fudgy and sludgy and droolingly gooey.

The taste alone would be enoughTo make you want to steal the stuff.

But this Dream Pie was no ordinary cake,Something special went into the bake.

Once eaten you would never forgetIts supernatural side-effect.

Beautiful dreams delighted your day,You prayed that things would stay that way.

But only the power of magic Dream PieCould set your dreams free to soar and fly.

Those who had tasted the pie's delightsWould have sold their mothers for one more slice.

But Felicity Fry didn't understand profit,She charged only pennies and thought nothing of it.

She toiled day and night in her apron, baking,Content to see all the joy she was making.

As word of her pie spread through the landShe struggled to meet the huge demand.Dream Pie fans were a desperate crowd,

They banged on her door and shouted out loud.These impatient yobs were spoiling her fun,

And sadly there was worse to come.She discovered there were plans afoot

To steal her secret recipe book.


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1 3

Among the many dream pie eatersWere villains, thieves and downright cheaters.

Their plan was to steal Felicitys mix,Thank goodness she was wise to their tricks.The thought of them stealing her magic pieMade her shout out with fury, yell and cry,

'Why can't you all just leave me alone,You're not having my mixture, so get off home!'

She slaved all hours to keep up the supplyOf the devilishly decadent, magic Dream Pie.But completely baked-out, it wasnt enough,Determined, they still tried to steal the stuff.

To have the secret, they were now hell-bent,They wouldnt give up, they wouldnt relent.

Distressed by their heartless attempts to stealFelicity offered to do a deal.

She met the thugs on the village green,Shocked by their manner, steely and mean.

The plan was set, she would meet them tomorrow,Exchange money for mixture, oh what sorrow!They did their swap, with a quick handshake,

The rotters were off in a hurry to bake.But their eager excitement didn't last long,

The pie wasn't working, something was wrong!They baked cake after cake, into the night.

They ate cake after cake, but it still wasn't right.They baked and they baked, and then baked some more,

They ate and they ate, till their stomachs were sore.No dreams, no magic, such sweet deception,

All they had bought was indigestion!


15/28

1 4

They raced to Felicitys driven by rage,Wild, hungry tigers let out of their cage.

But the rooms were empty, everything cleared,Felicity Fry had disappeared!

She refused to let them take what was hers,So had altered the recipe ... changed a few words.

Any cake they attempted to bakeWould make them feel sick and keep them awake!

Knowing of course they'd wise up to her trickShed gathered her things, and got out quick!

And now she rests in a heavenly placeEating Dream Pie with a smile on her face.


16/28

1 5

I nfinity Peak

Whisperings speak of a place farawayWhere we will never be.

Where silver trees circle icy glades And diamonds jut out of the sea.

Secrets snatched every now and thenTell of stories no one dares speak

Of a powerful force reigning long in this landBy the name of Infinity Peak.

A grasping tower of angled edgesSteely sharp and endless.

A force of strength and supremacy Almighty, alone and friendless.

Nowhere to shelter, nowhere to hide,Relentless knife-edged pinnacles.

Yet hushed voices hint that somewhere hereIs the promise of mortal miracles.

Stories tell of the foolish yet braveWho have challenged the might of the Peak,

Deluded they throw their lives awayFor an ending thats bloody and bleak.

None have ever breathed the air That coldly blows over the top,

The unspeakable power of the mountainSaps their spirit and quickly they drop.What makes these fools so determined

To test their strength of will?Why can they never learn

That this is no ordinary hill?The reason for their recklessness

Makes it crystal clear,Whythey risk their precious lives

And all that they hold dear.


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1 6

Who amongst us hasnt looked upBewitched by blue oceans of sky,

And wished that like the carefree birdsThey had the power to fly?

This is the gift of Infinity PeakFor those that conquer its height.

To teeter on the edge of lifeWith the precious gift of flight.

To step off the top with arms outstretched And feel the air gently caressing,

Then freely float through magical skiesIn awe of this wonderful blessing.

For days and nights you could live this wayWith the birds just gliding and soaring.

A new way of feeling, a new reason to be, Away from the earthly and boring.

And even when it was over,When your feet felt the firmness of ground,

Your life would be changed for ever By the freedom youd finally found.

Infinity Peak still beckons,Tempting us all with its promise.

The chance to fly free, unearthly joy And the dream of heavenly solace.


18/28

1 7

Q ueen of the Rainbow Patch

Miss HettyPenretty was seventy-threeWhen she won the National Lottery.Those she told of her jackpot prize

Had ideas how to spend it theres no surprise!Family and friends she knew didnt care,

Desperate to know when theyd get their share.But Hetty was wily, she knew the score,

The whiff of some money, a queue at the door.Its exotic aroma conjures up dreamsOf enormous mansions and limousines.

Diamond rings, designer chic, A different car for every week.

She spent her money precisely as planned And bought herself a plot of land.

First she built a humble home, A tiny cottage built of stone.

A little bit more on basic needs,The rest she spent on flower seeds.

She sent the seeds to all she knewWith invites to her cottage on Sunday at two.Envelopes dropped from the doors to the floor,

Seeds they shrieked, Just seeds, nothing more!They turned up on Sunday, seeds in hand,She asked them to follow her onto the land.

Now, she announced, Its time to scatter,


19/28

1 8

Wherever you like, it doesnt matter.They didnt really understand

But scattered as asked and covered the land.When all the seeds were cast around,

Hetty spoke to the weary crowd.Thank you all for taking part

In a brilliant beginning, a magical start.Shed never forget that morning in May,Newborn shoots on their opening day.

As each dawn followed, a different picture,Bursts of new life beguiled and bewitched her.

High summer blooms blossomed everywhere,Blasts of colour in sweet perfumed air.

A wildness of wonder splattered and splashedLike a radiant rainbow fallen and smashed.

Those who had helped in planting the seedsCame often to sit and relax or pull weeds.

Even in winter they found an escapeIn the fading colours of the cold landscape.

Skeleton plants in bare, brown soil,Saving their strength for the springtime toil.

People found solace in the space swept bare,Everything rested, a quietness so rare.

Many years later the rainbow patch thrives,Its passion and beating heart still alive.Where Hettys cottage once had stood,

A beautiful statue carved in wood. An elegant lady with a generous face

At peace in her beautiful resting place.

Inscribed on the figure some well chosen wordsWhich visitors read to the songs of the birds.

Here lies Hetty who aged seventy-three,Won the National Lottery.

Still she watches and reigns supreme,Our rainbow patch gardens incredible Queen.

Troubles and B ubbles


20/28

1 9

A young boy slept a troubled sleep,He wished he could feel more excited.

He dreamed of parcels that wouldnt arrive, A Christmas so bleak and so blighted.

The year had been a disaster,His parents had nothing left.

The family house, the savings account,Bare bones now, completely bereft.

When Christmas morning arrived,He was sorry but not really surprised,

To see just two tiny parcelsLying sadly side by side.

He took his time unwrapping,Prolonging each second of pleasure.

He slowly peeled back the paper,Revealing the well-hidden treasure.

His gifts were lovingly chosenBy his parents despite all their troubles.

A small bar of candy, his favourite of course And a bottle of blowing bubbles.

Those bubbles are meant to be specialSaid his Mum with a knowing smile,Theyre magical, monster bubbles,

The biggest by a mile.

The boy went outside with his giftsWhile his Mum started making some dinner.

Hed see what the bubbles were really like,Try his hardest to blow a real winner.It seemed that his mother was right,The bubbles were massive in size,

Unbelievably huge, could this really be true,Maybe something was wrong with his eyes?

The biggest, boldest bubble,Was wobbling on the grass.

He poked his finger through the wall


21/28

2 0

Like softly melting glass.First his finger, then his arm,

His whole body now slipped in.Standing in a sparkling sphereLet the Christmas magic begin.

The merest breath of breeze,They were weightless now in flight.

The young boy in his bubbleFloating freely in dreamy delight.

They soared over snow topped mountains,Touched the billowing softness of clouds.

Sang with sweetly tuned songbirds,Winging past them in shimmering crowds.

They soared to the top of the sky,Towards warmest welcoming rays.

The young boys heart thumping with joy And white lights dazzling his gaze.

Precious hours passed as they drifted alongThrough diaphanous, ocean blue skies.Then sadly the bubble gently dropped

And the boy rubbed his sky-weary eyes.

His mother was waiting to greet him,She was smiling, what did she know?

She asked him, How was your journey,Was it fun and Where did you go?

The boy was still in raptures,Dizzy and buzzing with joy.

He said, Thanks for the best Christmas ever,

I must be the luckiest boy.


22/28

2 1

Dragon B aby

I found you in the hedgerow Abandoned, lying still.

Palest green with eyes shut tightI was sure you must be ill.

I picked you up so carefully Afraid that you might bite.Startled eyes sprang open,Wide and emerald bright.

Warm snaked skin beat quicklyWithin my clammy grasp.

Coiling tail with tightening grip

Around my finger clasped.I took you to a clearing,Made a bed of softest leaves

And sheltered you with branchesFrom tall and tangly trees.

And then each day in secretI escaped to where you lay.

I brought you cake and water You grew stronger every day.

Month by month your magnificenceRevealed an unearthly shape.

A fantastical flame mouthed monster

Now preparing to make your escape.But before you left to flee for home

You beckoned me to climbUpon your arching jagged back,

This would be our final time.I gently cried as we torched through skies

Of salty tasting blue.Nothing would ever be the same

As the time I spent with you.


23/28

22

W hite Kite

Mrs Mona Moon worried for her son,He fretted so much for one so very young.

Questions, questions, questions all day long,Why are we here? And, Where did we come from?

He asked her, Where do pretty flowers goWhen winter saps their strength to grow?Who mends the butterflies broken wings

Or saves the song bird who no longer sings? And all those lost people I used to love Are they really living in heaven above?

Mrs Moon told him about angels shed seenIn shadowy clouds, secret and serene.

Theyre guardians, she said,With huge,white wingsTo wrap us in love against fear that darkness brings.

And when we go to heaven as all the people doWell meet the loving angels because they live there too.

Her Son agreed her story would help if it were true And if only she could prove it, he might believe it too.

The next day Mrs Moon gave a present to her boy, A beautiful white kite, but not your average toy.

They took it to the meadow, to watch it freely fly,The frisky air delighted with its catch up in the sky.

The wind then blew more wildly and whisked the kite from view,Mona saw a chance and shouted, Are the angels true?The breeze became a whisper and the kite could just be seen

Gently drifting back to earth it settled on the green.Mona stared in silence her complexion turning pale,

The purest, whitest feathers hanging off the kites long tail. As her son began to speak he felt his warm tears fall,

Mother you were right, there are angels after all!


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23


25/28

24

W hy is it so?

Why is it so, how can it beThat I can never not be me?

I squeeze my eyes closed really tightUntil its dark & black as night.

Im completely sure that I cant hear With fingers stuck inside each ear.

I keep everything still,every muscle and bone,Im silent as a statue frozen in stone.

I try not to think.I try not to blink.I even believe

That I'll try not to breathe.But what's the point, its plain to see

That I can never not be me.


26/28

25

No fish for Hamish

Poor Hamish the cat detested fishBut that's all he ever got in his dish.

'No way, he cried...not slimy salmon,Haven't you got some juicy gammon?

Tuna, haddock I hate that too,What about some tasty stew?

Cod again, just how many timesWill you commit these fishy crimes?

I know Im a cat,Im aware of that!

But give me a break And chuck me a steak.

Perhaps if I said Pretty please,Youd consider a piece of creamy cheese?

Its OK for you to be fussy and picky,Not eat meat cos it makes you sicky.We put up with you being vegetarian,

You dont get dragged to the veterinarian.The vet has said I dont have a disease

I would just like NOT to have fish for my teas.I swear if I see any more of those kippers,

Ill chuck up in your silly, pink fluffy slippers.Trout tonight? Thats it no more

Im going to go and live next door!


27/28

26

Lonely Jessica Jones

Jessica Jones was a spoilt little girlShe had all the toys money can buy.

Dolls houses, teddy bears, games and books,Piles of them stacked up high.

Her Dad was something professionalWorking hard from dawn until dinner.

Her Mum cleaned and polished all day longSo their huge house would sparkle and glimmer.

Poor little Jess didnt have much funDespite all those teddies and toys.

She felt so alone in her big clean houseWished for muddles, madness and noise.

She desperately hoped that one day shed find A best friend, a true soul mate.She had the idea of a cuddly pet,

Shed ask Mum, she just couldnt wait!

Out of the question, her Mother yelled, Goodness Jess, have you gone quite mad?The smell, the hairs, the mud on the stairs,

Your idea is extremely bad!Jess would not give up,

Though her Mum had left her upset.She left the house as quiet as a mouse

On a mission to find a new pet.

She believed her wish might really come true

When she spotted her ideal friend, A cute and cuddly caterpillar,Was wriggling around the bend.

She picked him up and said Hello you,Youre going to be my new pet.

She would never forget that special dayWhen she and her pet first met.


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She sneaked him into her bedroom And made him a house from a box.

She fed him with leaves from the garden And tucked him up in a pair of socks.Her time with her pet was so precious

He was such a cute little thing.Imagine she thought of all the joy

A few more pets would bring.

It wasnt long before her roomWas bursting with crawly creatures.

Beetles and bugs, snails and fat slugs,Weird looking worms with no features.

Everything hidden, nothing to seeOr her mother would surely explode?

Spiders in slippers, shrews in her shoes,In the wardrobe a warty, wet toad.

What fun and friendship she had with her petsPlaying whenever she could.

Shed have liked of course to show her MumBut shed never have understood.

When friends asked how many pets they hadJesss Mum would proudly say NONE,

But Jess would whisper under her breath,...at the last count one hundred and one!

poetry book 1

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