486002  Poems Read Home Login

 POEMS FOR KIDS

                                       I
When Yellow Class watched a show all about vets
Miss Hancock asked if they had got any pets,
And Julie said "Miss, I wish you could meet Pest.
He's my little hamster, and really the best."

"Hamsters are rubbish!"said Sam with a grin,
"If I had a hamster he'd go in the bin!
Now I've got a dog that can do loads of tricks
Like burying bones and retrieving thrown sticks."

Then everyone started to join in together
Till Simon pushed Peter who banged into Heather,
And Heather fell backwards and fell on the floor
Just as the Headmistress came in through the door.

"Miss Hancock," she said as the room became quiet,
"I need an idea and I hope you'll supply it.
The Governors want us to put on a show
But how we can do it I simply don't know."

"They want it on Friday, dear, that's what they say.
There's simply no time to be learning a play.
We sang for them last time and mustn't repeat.
I tell you I'm close to admitting defeat!"

"Miss Babbs" said Miss Hancock "I'll do what I can.
I tell you I think that I might have a plan.
The children and I have been talking of vets,
And most of the children have one or two pets."

"And I was just thinking it could be quite fun,
As long as it's organised, properly run,
Provided there's nobody acting the fool,
To put on a Pet Show right here in the school."

"A Pet Show you say?" cried Miss Babbs in surprise.
She took out a tissue and dabbed both her eyes
"A Pet Show sounds good, it might be just the thing,
With no words to learn and with no need to sing!"

"No costumes to make and no scenery too,
There's really not much we'll be needing to do.
Some programmes of course and a poster or two,
But I'm sure I'll be able to leave that to you!"

As soon as Miss Babbs had gone out through the door
Miss Hancock said "Everyone sit on the floor.
We need to discuss this, to think it all through,
Or there could be trouble, and that just won't do."

"To begin with,"said Miss "Just in case I was wrong,
Tell me, who has a pet that they might bring along?"
And all of the children then put up their hands
Except for the new girl called Melanie Rands.

"Oh dear," said Miss Hancock "That's really quite sad.
"To leave someone out makes me feel rather bad."
"My uncle's got loads of pets." Natalie said
"So could I just bring one of those in instead?"

"Yes, that would be fine." Teacher said with a grin
"As long as he doesn't mind sending one in.
Now what about rules, we will need some you know,
Or else there'll be something that ruins the show."

"No hamsters," said Sam "should be rule number one!
They bite and they're smelly and no way they're fun."
"All pets are allowed," Teacher said with a shout,
"But you must control them, or they will be out."

"What about pooing?" said Hannah McPhee
"We can't fill the classroom with dog poo and pee!"
The children all laughed but Miss said "That is true.
To have lots of mess in the school just won't do."

"But if we keep all the pets out in the yard,
We'll just clean up after them, that won't be hard.
And just so we're clear that you know what we're doing,
It's YOU that clears up if it's YOUR pet that's pooing!"

"There can't be no fights!", Julie made this appeal,
"I don't want Sam's dog having Pest for a meal!"
"There mustn't be trouble." Miss Hancock agreed
"If pets are a nuisance we'll ask them to leave."

"But who'll be the judges?" Paul wanted to know,
"Who will decide who is best in the show?"
"And what will they judge on?" asked Annabel Reed
"On looks or behaviour, on size or on speed?"

"The Governors will judge." Teacher said with a grin,
"They wanted a show, so they ought to join in.
And what they will judge by you'll leave up to me - 
You'd argue all day and you'd never agree!"

                                  II

The rest of the week seemed to pass in a flash,
With so much to do they were all in a dash.
They each made a poster, some made three or four, 
And all of the shops put one up in their door.

They used the computer to make invitations
And handed them out to their friends and relations,
They made lots of signs saying "PET SHOW THIS WAY"
To make sure that no one got lost on the day. 

                             III

When Friday arrived it was sunny and bright,
A little bit windy, but that was alright.
The school gates were opened at eight forty-five
And soon the contestants began to arrive.

The first ones to get there were Julie and Pest,
The hamster was brushed and was looking his best.
Heather came with them with Morris, her mouse,
Who scampered around in his glass-sided house.

Hannah came next with a rabbit called Carrot,
Then Peter arrived with a cage full of parrot.
Sam and eight others arrived with their dogs,
While Jim had nine snails and Samantha two frogs.

Natalie Rand was the last to appear,
"She ain't got no pet!" Sam called out with a sneer.
"My Uncle's outside with it." Natalie said
"He'll bring it inside just as soon as it's fed."

And then moments later her uncle came in,
He wore a red coat, a moustache and a grin.
He had a tall hat on the top of his head,
He bowed to Miss Hancock, and here's what he said.

"I have my own circus, you'd probably guess,
For this is how Ringmasters usually dress.
When Natalie asked me to lend her my cat,
I said that I would, well there's no harm in that."

"But I didn't know there'd be dogs here as well,
And how Mog will take to them I just can't tell."
"Don't worry," said Sam, giving Simon a punch,
"I won't let my dog have your moggy for lunch!"

"Well that's very kind of you," Nat's uncle said,
He lifted his top hat and scratched his bald head,
"But I have no fears about damage to Mog,
I'm just a bit scared that he might hurt your dog."

"Your cat hurt my dog? Are you having a joke?"
Sam snorted out loud and gave Simon a poke.
"He has cats for breakfast, for lunch and for tea,
Just bring your cat in and we'll very soon see!"

"As long as you're sure then!" the Ringmaster said,
And jammed his top hat tightly down on his head.
He went out the gate but he soon reappeared,
Tugging hard on a rope while Sam chuckled and sneered.

"Your uncle's a weakling Nat, that's plain to see,
He's weak as a kitten and not strong like me."
"Young man," cried the Ringmaster "Please don't make fun.
Why don't you come over and show how it's done?"

"I will then!" cried Sam, grabbing hold of the rope,
"If you can't do this then you must be a dope!"
Then outside the gate they all heard a huge roar,
The rope gave a jerk and Sam shot through the door.

"Oh dear!" cried Nat's uncle "I can't think what's wrong. 
The young man assured me that he was quite strong. 
But Mog must be stronger than him, it appears,
So Sam might get hurt by my kitten, one fears!"

He ran through the gate shouting "Please all stand back.
If Mog should get frightened she just might attack."
He disappeared quickly out into the street,
Then back wandered Sam looking white as a sheet.

"It's a l...., It's a l....." stammered Sam in great fright,
"Please don't let it get me, please don't let it bite!"
"He's just a big cat!" Nat declared with a grin,
Then going outside brought a lion back in.

"Oh, isn't he handsome!" Miss Hancock declared.
"I don't understand, Sam, why you would be scared. 
He's safe on a lead and he won't bother you.
It's not like he's wild or escaped from the zoo."

"But what is your pet called? Please tell us his name.
To call him "that lion" would be such a shame..
His coat is so furry, it makes him so pretty."
Nat's uncle said "We call her Moggy or Kitty."

Miss Hancock said "Now it is time to begin.
As soon as your parents and friends have come in,
I'll send for the judges and let them all know
The pets are all here and we're ready to go."

First came the parents, they chatted like mad,
And everyone looked for their mum or their dad,
And then came the judges, some fat and some thin,
All led by Miss Babbs who was showing them in.

She welcomed the parents, each friend and each guest,
She talked quite a lot - it was what she did best.
She said hey were welcome to wander about,
Reminding the kids not to run or to shout.

Each judge had a clipboard, a pencil or pen,
They walked down the line then they walked back again,
They questioned the owner of every pet,
They asked them their names and asked how they'd first met.

They all got together and talked for a while,
And some got quite angry, while some seemed to smile.
The children got restless and started to chat,
Till Miss Babbs said sharply "We'll have none of that!"

The Chief Judge stepped forward and clearing her throat
Said "Sorry it's taken us so long to vote.
There's so many pets and of all shapes and sizes,
And so we are going to give several prizes."

Julie and Pest won 'The Hamster Award'
Samantha's two frogs won 'The Pets Who Are Bald'.
Heather's mouse, Morris, won 'Pet With Best Squeak'
And Pete's parrot Percy won 'Pet With Best Beak'.

Jim and his snails won 'The Shiniest Shells'
Sarah's canary won 'Best Set of Bells'
Hannah and Carrot won 'Best Pair of Ears',
And Tom's tiny crocodile won 'The Best Tears'.

All of the dogs won 'The Best of Their Breed'
All except Sam's, although Sam disagreed.
But then they said Sam's dog had won 'Loudest Bark'
Which Sam and his mates thought was really a lark. 

Natalie watched in dismay at the fun,
As prize after prize after prize had been won.
She dabbed at her eyes till her tissue was soggy,
For all of the pets had a prize except Moggy.

The Chief Judge coughed loudly and then she said "Please. 
There's just one prize left and the jury agrees,
'The Champion Pet' isn't mouse, bird or frog,
Our winner today is a lion called Mog!"

Then Natalie started to cry once again,
But this time her tears were of pleasure, not pain.
She hugged all her friends and gave Moggy a squeeze
And gave him his favourite, a big lump of cheese. 

Then up spoke Miss Babbs in a voice loud and shrill,
(She'd not spoken for minutes, which made her feel ill)
"Dear children and friends I am almost in tears,
This Pet Show idea was my best one for years."

"But everyone here had their part which they played,
And now it is time for the final parade."
But just then she stopped, though she planned to say more,
For that's when she trod in some poo on the floor. 

She wandered away, fingers holding her nose,
And checking to see there was none on her clothes,
While Miss Hancock got her class all in a row,
Told them who was to lead and which way they should go.

And some pets were carried, while others were led,
(Though pets like Sam's dog led their owners instead)
And all round the playground they walked in a line, 
Smiling and waving and taking their time.

The spectators clapped till their hands were quite raw,
And shouted and cheered till their throats were all sore,
They cheered very loud for each cat, snail or dog,
But loudest of all for a lion called Mog. 

George Ansell
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     






©2000 - 2022, Individual Authors of the Poetry. All rights reserved by authors.
Visit My Home Page | Start Your Own Poetry Site | PoetryPoem
[ Control Panel ]  [ Today's Poetry - ALL Poets ]   [ Search ]



monique Message from Monique - Free videos for your poetry. Check them out Go to Poetry Poem youtube channel and get the embed  
YouTube
dreamweaver POETRY BY KRIS ~ DREAMWEAVER - ~WELCOME TO DREAMLAND~ Read my Poems to Know me. I am in my poems.  
dreamweaver
poet5170 Poetry by Elsie - *WELCOME TO MY WORLD* ~ Read my poems full of fact, fiction and fantasy.  
poet5170
malibupoetess Life Lines by Malibu Poetess - Straight forward prose and poetry on life, love, joy and disillusionment.  
malibupoetess
norrie5 Message in poetry - personalised poetry, red heartshaped bottle extra special gift for a loved one  
norrie5
waterdragon Our Next Poet Laureate! YAYA! - Remarkable contemporary poetry by award-winning author of Out of Cullen Street (A House of Madness)  
waterdragon
athanase Poetry by athanase - Feedback and critique requested.  
athanase
author3578     dreamweaver      poetry2071      marpor1      kuopenyung  View All Poets
Newest Item: My Father
Hard working Early morning rising Wise sayings Climbing the ladder The fi ... More
Added: 2024-04-24  My Poetry List  PoetryPoem.com      Get a Free Site       Blogs     Stories     Premium Sites