Children's Poetry Page

© 2005 Doris Holik Kelly. Illustrations by Kevin Scott Collier.

I saw Sam the sea gull arrive at camper town,
His tie dangled sideways and his hat was upside down.
He chomped snails and silver fish, for breakfast, lunch and tea,
Then he crunched down potato chips, while floating out to sea.

He loved scallops and burgers. Soggy fries were his delight,
He ate so much slop, he couldn't take flight.
He'd flirt, and he'd beg, as he sashayed around.
He thought he was cool with his belly so round.

The beggar so sad, the cheater so selfish,
have nothing on Sam, as he munches on shell fish.
"Give me that donut! Serve me that ham!
Feed me a hot dog! I'm the gull they call Sam!"

I tossed him a chip. I pitched him some bread.
I threw him a stick, and it bounced off his head.
"Go away you spoiled fowl! Fly away greedy pig!
You ate all my lunch now, so go dance a jig!"

He danced, and he snickered, "I know you have more.
I'll call all my friends here, cause I know the score!"
He shrieked and he hollered and snatched up a rock.
I laughed, and I hooted, "Sam, go eat a sock!"

Sam pouted, and stalked around and around.
He wanted to scare me, but he acted like a clown.
"Please! Please! I'm so hungry! That wasn't enough.
Don't you know I'm still growing? I need lots of stuff!"

"Go away you strange bird! I don't think you're funny.
I'd pay you to leave, but you'd just eat my money!"
He gave a loud scream so his friends would all come.
I jumped in my tent. I was tired of that bum.

Impatient gulls cackled, they chortled, and screeched.
They perched on my tent roof. They wandered the beach.
"We know you've got food," they snickered and jeered.
"Just hand it over! We're starving out here!"

"No way, you scroungers! I'm sorry old pals.
I'm fresh out of patience. No more food from this gal."
So I packed up my ice box, and took down my tent.
If Sam would be greedy, I'd pay no more rent!

Suddenly a thought came into my head.
I'd soon fix old Sam up. Maybe he'd leave instead.
So I tossed bread with peanut butter up in the air.
I hoped Sam would catch it. It was more than his share.

Wow! What a mouthful! It glued up his beak!
He couldn't let go, he couldn't even squeak.
His eyes bulged, his wings flapped, then he zoomed out of town,
with his hat stuck on sideways and his tie upside down.

Ugh I swallowed a bug!
I saw silly eyes,
They gave me hives!
He wiggled his wings,
They jiggled like springs!
She carried a flag,
Stuffed in a bag!
She wore pink shorts,
She was out for sports?
I gulped big lumps,
I got the mumps!
He tasted like hash,
And I got a rash!
He wore red sox,
No! Not Chicken pox?
He was so quick!
I’m going to be sick!
It’s hard to inhale,
When you’ve gulped down a whale!
Wait a minute!
I think I ingested a family!

Oh how I love books!
I love them under my bed.
Or heaped up in piles by my head,
Over my chair, suspended in air.
And stuffed in available nooks.

Oh how I love books,
The scent of the ink,
that makes me think.
That without them I'd sink,
and die with a sigh.
If I lived in a land without books.

Oh how I love books,
The path to my heart,
is paved in part,
By layers and piles,
up stair steps and stiles,
Of the yummy and thrilling,
Fantastically chilling,
Splendorous!
Books upon wonderful books!


"Let's Count on Mackinac Island"

1. big stone ARCH climbs high in the sky. While
2. HORSE and BUGGIES go clip-clopping by.
3. Fast FERRY BOATS zip across the bay,
4. Big CANNONS, BOOM, in a well mannered way.
5. Men on BIKES pedal with pride, Under
6. big SUITCASES, off they ride.
7. loud MUSKETS, shot by men in soldiers coats, Make clouds over the lake where
8. SAILBOATS float.
9. laughing SEAGULLS say hee, hee, hee, as
10. POUNDS OF FUDGE, go home with me.

I stand upon a sandy dune,
The air is like perfume.
I hear the sound of waves rush in,
And I have peace within.

My face is warm, my toes are cool,
I’m floating in my soul.
A bit of heaven touches me,
I don’t want to go back to school!

Summer breeze,
makes me sneeze!

Smelly tent,
what a scent!

Sleeping bag,
it’s a drag.

Sandy socks,
box of rocks!

Slippery mud,
So much crud!

Why can’t I camp out in my room?

Please feel free to print this page and share it with a young person in your life!