Children's Poetry On Social Media

I cooked my math book in a broth
and stirred it to a steaming froth.
I threw in papers—pencils, too—
to make a pot of homework stew.

I turned the flame up nice and hot
and tossed my binder in the pot.
I sprinkled in my book report
with colored markers by the quart.

Despite its putrid, noxious gas,
I proudly took my stew to class.
And though the smell was so grotesque,
I set it on my teacher’s desk.

My teacher said, “You’re quite a chef.
But, still, you’re going to get an F.
I didn’t ask for ‘homework stew,’
I said, ‘Tomorrow, homework’s due.'”

“Homework Stew” copyright © 2005 Kenn Nesbitt. All Rights Reserved. Published in When the Teacher Isn’t Looking. Reprinted by permission of the author. www.poetry4kids.com

I can’t wait for summer, when school days are done,
to spend the days playing outside in the sun.
I won’t have to study. No homework, no tests.
Just afternoons spent on adventures and quests.
Instead of mathematics and writing reports,
I’ll go to the park and play summertime sports.
Instead of assignments, report cards, and grades,
I’ll get to play baseball and watch the parades.
I’ll swing on the playground. I’ll swim in the pool
instead of just practicing lessons in school.
The second the school year is finally done
I’ll spend every minute with friends having fun.
I hardly can wait for the end of the year.
I’m counting the days until summer is here.
It’s hard to be patient. It’s hard to be cool.
It’s hard to believe it’s the first day of school.

“I Can’t Wait for Summer” copyright © 2005 Kenn Nesbitt. All Rights Reserved. Published in When the Teacher Isn’t Looking. Reprinted by permission of the author. www.poetry4kids.com

(sing to the tune of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game")

Let me out of the classroom.
Let me out of the school.
I’m not so good at geography.
I would rather be watching T.V.

It’s still twenty minutes till recess.
Lunch is hours away.
Won’t you please, please, please get me out
of the class today?

Someone’s here with a note now.
Teacher’s calling my name.
He says my mother is right outside.
I should go and she’ll give me a ride

to my yearly dentist appointment.
I forgot it’s today!
Teacher please, please, please help me out.
Won’t you let me stay?

“Let Me Out of the Classroom” copyright © 2007 Kenn Nesbitt. All Rights Reserved. Published in Revenge of the Lunch Ladies. Reprinted by permission of the author. www.poetry4kids.com

The people outside on the sidewalk
can’t seem to remain on the ground.
They’re jumping and hopping and springing,
and generally bouncing around.

I’ve never seen anything like it.
It’s such an unusual scene,
as if they have springs in their sneakers,
or bounce on a big trampoline.

I think I know what may have happened
that caused this chaotic event:
Last week they replaced our old sidewalk
with one made of rubber cement!

“Springy Sidewalk” copyright © 2021 Kenn Nesbitt. All Rights Reserved. Published in The Aliens Have Landed at Our School. Reprinted by permission of the author. www.poetry4kids.com

march ringing ting-a-linging
bird winging green swinging

spring singing

sun daisy corn hazy
cloud gazey june lazy

summer crazy

leaf turning summer yearning
ghost twirling red curling

autumn swirling

snowy ruffle icy bluffle
cold snuffle warm duffle

winter muffle


First Published in Poetry Works and Poster Pack, Folens

When teams are picked, for playground games,
I never seem to hear my name.
I stand and watch the choices made
And, one by one, my hopes all fade.
I look around, and force a smile,
Lean on the chain-link fence awhile.
I say, as they all race away,
I didn’t really want to play,
But, deep inside the pit of me,
I ache an ache no one can see.

One kind word can change a thought,
It can change an opinion,
Change a mind.

One kind word can offer hope,
It can give happiness,
Change an experience.

One kind word can bring growth,
It can give someone strength,
Change a day.

One kind word can make a difference,
It can show someone cares,
Change a life.

I want to travel around the world for fun,
And see different lands, one by one.
But I would not like to travel by aeroplane, train, or by car -
I would like to have a magic carpet that will take me afar.

I will keep the carpet under my bed, rolled upright,
So it will be easy to reach, when I want to take flight.
I won’t need to get a passport, or buy a ticket when I want to fly,
I’ll just sit on my magic carpet, and wave everyone good-bye!

I’ll cross rivers and valleys, and the snowy Himalayas so tall,
And fly to faraway China to see the Great Wall.
Then I’ll float to Egypt, and visit the great Nile,
And see the pyramids, and the Sphinx’s mysterious smile.

I’ll travel to the African jungles where wild animals roam,
And visit European cities like London, Paris, and Rome
But on my magic carpet, before I eagerly set out,
There’s something that I’m a little worried about.

I keep thinking of it, again and again –
What will happen if my magic carpet gets caught in the rain?
I’m sure that soaking wet carpets can’t fly far away -
So, to travel for fun, I must find another way!

When my cat sleeps, he snoozes
Inside the laundry basket,
Or on top of a tree,
Crammed inside a shelf,
Where no-one can see.
In empty shopping bags,
And cartons made of cardboard,
On piles of books and newspapers,
And suitcases that are stored.
Curled up under furniture,
In places we’d never think to look.
Or nestled behind a flower pot,
In a hard to find nook.
Since my cat sleeps for at least sixteen hours each day
He must be bored of sleeping in the same old way!

At school you must be good
And never get there late,
But when it comes to Friday
The children think it’s great

Because it’s time for the weekend,
It’s time to have a rest,
It’s time to stay in bed ‘til late
And walk round in your vest.

The teachers all work hard
To try to educate,
But when it comes to Friday
The teachers think it’s great

Because it’s time for the weekend,
It’s time to have a rest,
It’s time to stay in bed ‘til late
And walk round in your vest.

The Wind is such a strange and amazing being –
It has no legs, yet it travels far and wide.
It soars up to the clouds, climbs mountain peaks,
Swirls across sandy deserts and sweeps over the sea side.
The Wind has no tongue, yet we can hear its voice,
When it whispers, whistles, hums, and sighs.
And when it rains, and a storm comes along,
We can hear the Wind as it howls and cries.
The Wind has no muscles, yet it lifts and carries away rooftops,
And easily uproots tall, strong trees.
It snatches umbrellas right out of our hands,
And pulls down houses and buildings with ease.
Though we can’t see the wind, we can feel its presence,
Sometimes it’s ever so cold, and sometimes it feels warm.
And though the Wind sometimes gets cross, I know that it likes to play -
When I bring out my kite, the happy Wind never does me any harm!

When I’m caught out and angry, and tears start to flow,
I pack up my rucksack and quickly I go
To the huge, towering oak tree, in the field by the woods,
Where nobody says that I shouldn’t or should.

I unpack my bag, spread my blanket and sit;
Feel the tree’s cooling shadow, and hide under it.
I watch the birds fly through the branches that span
The space where no voice says I can’t or I can.

My back rests against the deep patterns of bark,
And soon the sun makes an exchange with the dark,
Then I leave with clear thoughts that I gained as I hid
With a tree that’s not bothered if I didn’t or did.

I’d like to be popular, just for a term,
To stand with the in-crowd, be given a turn,
To be called smart and help others to learn,
But I can’t see it happening to me.

I’d like to be popular, just for a week,
To be given a part in a play where I speak,
To be treated as normal, and not as a freak,
But I can’t see it happening to me.

I’d like to be popular, just for a day,
To have people choose me, invite me to play;
I’d like to have friends who hear what I say,
But I can’t see it happening to me.

I’d like to be popular, just for an hour,
Come out of this corner where I sit and cower,
To share, for a moment, the balance of power,
But I can’t see it happening to me.

Be a kid
Enjoy the ride
Pause a while
Step outside

Frozen now
For shortest time
Look around
Upwards climb

Scan the view
and hold it still
Come back soon
You never will

So what you can
Pack in your case
And take it to
A future place

When you’re there
Way down the line
Open it
Let it shine

Reminding you
from green to gold
What you held
You still hold

Awe, belief
Hope and fear
Carried all
From there to here

What you were
is what you be
Past and present
in a bag called, ‘Me.’

I wish that spinach tasted like chocolate,
Instead of tasting sour and bitter.
I wish that candy bars were loaded with nutrition,
So that eating as many as I like would make me even fitter.
I wish I could finish my homework quickly every day,
Instead of feeling drowsy as soon as I start to write.
I wish I could keep a dragon as a pet at home,
So I can play with him to my heart’s delight.
I wish that one day, I get to meet a real fairy,
Instead of just reading about fairies in folklore.
I wish that the fairy answers all my questions to her,
So then, I can ask her several more.