A poem a day for kids

Hug

noreply@blogger.com (WJH) — Tue, 20 May 2008 20:43:00 +0000

If the world keeps spinning
while we’re all so busy
Does that explain
why we’re getting so dizzy?

If the world keeps turning
as we rush here and there
does that explain
why we’re going nowhere?

If the world turns too fast
we’ll be throw into flight.
So you’d better grab onto someone
and just hold on real tight.

The perfect toy

noreply@blogger.com (WJH) — Sun, 18 May 2008 18:43:00 +0000

It thinks for itself
It goes everywhere with you
It knows every little thing
That you like to do
It can guess your future
It can recall your past
It can make itself up
It can change really fast
It knows what you’re thinking
It responds to your needs
It can get you in trouble
It can help you succeed
It requires no batteries
It goes all day long
It knows all your secrets
And your favorite songs
It’s powered by everything
It thinks learning is fun
It’s built for a lifetime
And you’ll only need one
How much does it cost?
Where can you buy it?
Is there simply a place
Where you can go try it?
Well, I’ll tell you this, child
It ain’t hard to find
It’s the thing between your ears.
And this thing is called your mind.

Good boy

noreply@blogger.com (WJH) — Sat, 17 May 2008 13:58:00 +0000

My dog knows a lot of stuff.
I asked him about sandpaper, and he said “ROUGH”
But I think I found undeniable proof.
When I pointed to my house, and he yelled “ROOF”
Then I thought I was going deaf
When we watched football, and he said “REF”
After that came the moment of truth
When I asked the capital of Minnesota and he said “DULUTH”
I know, I know. It’s St. Paul.
Stupid dog.

The monkey store

noreply@blogger.com (WJH) — Fri, 16 May 2008 00:35:00 +0000

A group of monkeys
opened a store.
And it was open
from 10 to 4.
They sold bananas
to all of their friends
at a good, fair price,
(so as not to offend.)

Business was good,
but upon further inspection
it was better if they went
in a different direction.
They found other animals
that they could target.
so they added items
and expanded the market.

Word got out,
and the animals started buying
The parrots, the hippos.
Yes, even the lions.
But when the monkeys earned enough
to keep happy and alive
a second group opened a store
from 9 to 5.

The first store lost business,
so this problem they fixed
by expanding their hours
from 8 to 6.
Success came back
to their small operation
so they decided to open
several new locations

When the second monkeys
caught wind of all this
they decided to try
an aggressive new twist.
They opened huge stores,
as big as the forest
where they sold food, clothes -
there was even a florist.

They mowed down trees
to make their new spaces
it put money in their pockets
and smiles on their faces.
But the first monkeys were stubborn,
and refused to cower
so they opened all their stores
for 24 hours.

And they decided that this
was an all-out war
so they even built houses
around all their stores.
The houses were needed
‘cuz there were no more trees
but it was costly for the animals
to pay all the fees.

So they worked at the stores
to pay off their rent
and the monkeys got rich,
the other animals were spent.
This all went on
for many a season
More stores, more houses,
Without rhyme nor reason.

The jungle was gone,
and there was no time to play
Just working and working
all night and all day
Nothing was left
except stores and homes
No branches to swing on,
no prairies to roam.

Suddenly the monkeys stopped
to see what they’d done.
A lot more money
didn’t mean a lot more fun.
They missed the simple joys
of climbing and swinging
Of hugging their young,
of laughing and singing.

So the monkeys got together
and had a big meeting
(despite all their hatred
from all the competing.)
A young monkey stood up
and sadly exclaimed,
“Isn’t this enough
of our ridiculous game?
We’re not having fun
and our world is in ruins
Does anyone know
what the heck we are doing?
It’s a mess and we don’t know
how we ever got in this
So please, can’t we stop
All this monkey business?”

Imagine nation

noreply@blogger.com (WJH) — Tue, 13 May 2008 01:32:00 +0000

I’ve been to a place
Where the zebras are yellow.
Where people say “aZOOga”
Instead of just “hello”
Where kids can touch clouds
And dolphins speak German.
Where everything’s simple
yet hard to determine.
Where the birds can tap dance
and the mountains can run.
Where the sounds are backward
when there’s not ‘nuf fun.
It’s not on a map
but you can always find it.
It’s not in your eyesight
but it’s slightly behind it.
If you can’t live there
at least take a vacation
to the place we call the Imagine Nation.

Cockatoo much

noreply@blogger.com (WJH) — Mon, 12 May 2008 00:19:00 +0000

“I love you.”

“I love you.”

“You’re beautiful.”

“You’re beautiful.”

“Hello?”

“Hello?”

“Hey.”

“Hey.”

“Stop that.”

“Stop that.”

“Quiet.”

“Quiet.”

“Enough.”

“Enough.”

“I hate you.”

“I hate you.”

A cockatoo is worth enjoying
Even though it can be annoying.
‘Cause it teaches a lesson that’s rather exact:
What you give out
is what you’ll get back.

Another planet

noreply@blogger.com (WJH) — Wed, 07 May 2008 14:07:00 +0000

I woke up this morning
On another planet
It looks the same. It feels the same
But it can’t be Earth, now can it?

While the sky looks the same
And my house is quite precise
My brother must be an alien
Cuz he’s acting way too nice.

He said “Good morning”
He made me toast
He poured us both juice
And he gave me the most
I played with his toys
And he didn’t make a fuss
He gave me a hug
As he left for the bus

Yes I’m on another planet
Another world, another sun
but I'm in not hurry to get back soon
Cuz right now, I quite like this one

Stuffed

noreply@blogger.com (WJH) — Fri, 02 May 2008 20:23:00 +0000

I really, really like to eat
until I feel some pain.

Makes me think my stomach knows
a lot more than my brain.

Perfect

noreply@blogger.com (WJH) — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 15:33:00 +0000

Everything perfect
Everything clean
Everything happy
It's a wonderful scene.

All is well
And in perfect taste
My world is quiet
And full of grace.

It's perfection
Perfectly acheived
It's everything I wanted
And all I conceived.

But it seems something's wrong
With this wonderful place
Yet I don't understand
Not a thing's out of place.

There's no one to bug me
There's no one else here
There's no troubles, no worries
No struggle or fears.

I went perfectly straight
To my perfect clean home
But maybe it's not perfect
When I'm perfectly alone.

Off

noreply@blogger.com (WJH) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 12:51:00 +0000

Hello, TV. I’d like to have a word or three
So don’t be mad or defiant.
We just need to talk, man to man.
Er.. I mean… boy to appliance.

Today I went outside
And it was quite a wonder
There was sunshine and clouds
There was lightning and thunder

There were birds chirping
And people running
Kids laughing and playing
And screaming and funning.

It was a world I’ve never seen
And I quite rather liked it
So I grabbed a bicycle
And I hopped on and biked it

I felt a breeze on my face
I felt life and vigor
It was better than TV
And the screen was a lot bigger.

TV, don’t be sad
Here’s a kiss. Here’s a hug.
See, the world is so much brighter
When you are unplugged.

I know you’ll complain
I know that you’ll scoff
You’ve been on for years
Now it’s time to turn you
off.

Technorati Profile

Purpose full

noreply@blogger.com (WJH) — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 21:11:00 +0000

“What is my purpose?”
Asked the bee to the man

“To protect the queen, gather pollen
And help your whole clan”

“What is my purpose?”
Asked the duck to the man

“To raise ducklings, fly south
And then fly north again”

“What is my purpose?”
Asked the squirrel to the man

“To help your young, plant trees
burying all the nuts you can”

“Hmmmm. What is YOUR purpose?”
Asked the squirrel right back

“Hmmm, that’s complicated
Said the man, matter of fact.

“I don’t understand” said the squirrel
With a look of confusion
“Seems like you humans
Live a life of illusion”

“For you it’s no different
You’ve just made it that way
You’ve made it complicated
Which has led you astray”

“Your purpose is simple
From God’s creature to another
It’s to be a good person
And take care of each other.”

Between the lightning and the thunder

noreply@blogger.com (WJH) — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 12:32:00 +0000

Between the lightning and the thunder.
Is where we all exist.
Some cover their eyes and ears.
Trying to resist.
Others revel in the time between.
Dancing, hugging,
and following their dreams.

Between the lightning and the thunder.
Is the place where we’re all living.
So marvel the lightning. Embrace the thunder.
And treasure the time you’re given.

Time

noreply@blogger.com (WJH) — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 12:15:00 +0000

Time flies away
And doesn't fly back
Time runs out
And doesn't bother to pack
Time waits for no one
It just goes out of sight
Time is precious
But time has no price

So spend your time wisely
'cause you don't really know
When you'll ask yourself
"Where did the time go?"

Chocolates

noreply@blogger.com (WJH) — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 18:19:00 +0000

If life is a box of chocolates
And you don't know what you get
I plan on eating them all
'cuz I don't want any regrets

Smarter

noreply@blogger.com (WJH) — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 15:50:00 +0000

My friend told me to use words that were longer.
She said they’d make me sound smarter and stronger.
But I found it all to be ostentatious
(See what I mean, ain’t that word outrageous?)
But I think there’s only one word I need
It’s one little syllable that helps me succeed.
It makes people stop, it makes people smile
It makes them sit down and talk for awhile
There’s only one word that I need to live by
And that teeny little word
is just simply
“Hi.”

Lost and found

noreply@blogger.com (WJH) — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 14:32:00 +0000

Wandering in the woods
On a Saturday morning
We went off the trail
And got lost without warning

We tried to find the sun
But there were just clouds
We tried to hear voices
But there were no crowds

We climbed through roots
And through harsh terrain
We got cut by some thorns
And it started to rain

After hours upon hours
We thought we were no where
We had to learn how to cope
And help and share

Eventually we found the path
But we were much stronger
We got to our place
It just took a bit longer

We're glad we got lost
(Although we were frightened)
Because now we're found
(And much more enlightened)

So if you find yourself lost
Don't stop and fear
Just keep moving forward
And the path will appear

2 yous

noreply@blogger.com (WJH) — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 13:11:00 +0000

There’s a you who’s pure and simple
And a you who’s anything but
There’s a you who loves everyone
And a you who hates their guts

There’s a you who wants to try
And a you who wants to quit
There’s a you who wants to get up
And a you who wants to sit

There’s a you who wants to do it all
And a you who’s just plain lazy
There’s a you who’s got it all together
And a you who’s just plain crazy

You see, there are two you’s,
Living in us every day
Whichever you feed
Will be the one to succeed.
And the other will fade away.

Canoe trip

noreply@blogger.com (WJH) — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 14:13:00 +0000

Water flows
And takes us on its arms
We look at its beauty
We laugh at its charms

The river is quiet
Yet extremely polite
We paddle all day
To its utter delight

But the joy is all ours
As we spend a whole day
Letting the river
Take us its way

From here it keeps going
Although our trip is through
It just keeps on flowing
As we dock our canoe

We stand in thanks
For our day in the sun
For the time we spent
With the river as one

Attention

noreply@blogger.com (WJH) — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 18:58:00 +0000

Excuse me, Owners? Please listen up
I know I’m just a dog. Just a hound. Just a pup.
But for two days, you left me here all alone
Ran as fast as you could right out of our home.
Didn’t you worry about giving me kibble?
(The neighbors came over just to give me a nibble.)
No one walked me around the block.
I didn’t play with a ball or a rolled up sock.
And even now, it’s like I don’t exist.
Was I long forgotten, and then not even missed?
And what’s that there that you’ve got in the blanket?
Is it a big roast beef from a three-day-long banquet?
No? What is it? C’mon, let me see.
What’s causing no one to pay attention to me?
Oh no! It can’t be! It’s another one of those!
With ten little fingers and ten tiny toes.
I could have been starving. I could’ve gotten rabies.
You were out getting another one of those silly babies.

'sponsible

noreply@blogger.com (WJH) — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 00:54:00 +0000

My room is dirty.
And I don’t care.
My teeth aren’t brushed.
Neither is my hair.
My room is in shambles
My chores aren’t done.
I’d rather watch TV
Or go have some fun
Who really cares,
‘cept little old me?
If I just hang around
And do what I please?
Someone else will do it
‘Cause they always do
In fact my whole life
could be completely up to you
I’ll just sit and watch
And play with joy
As you scurry around
To clean up my toys.

Well, it’s thirty years later
And I’m sad to report
That my plans didn’t work
In fact they fell well short
Well they worked for a time
Yeah, it was fun for awhile
Until you got tired
Of cleaning my piles
So here I sit,
As still as a stone
Never learned to do a thing
And now I’m alone.
But I’ve learned one thing
And I learned it real good.
If you don’t take care of yourself
Then no one else should.

Run away

noreply@blogger.com (WJH) — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 14:26:00 +0000

Today is the day I’m running away.
I’m sick of the rules, I just want to play
I’ll just need a few toys, and I’ll sure need my Teddy
Just a couple more things and then I’ll be ready.

I’ll need lots of good books for when I get bored
I’ll take my hamster, ‘cuz he can’t be ignored.
I’ll need my big pillow for when I get tired
Of course my toothbrush will be required

I’ll take plenty of food for plenty of eating
And I’ll take the stove in case something needs heating
Hmmm. But wait. I can’t really cook.
So I’ll take my mom and a recipe book.

I’ll need a bat and a ball to be thrown.
And I’ll need my brother, ‘cuz I can’t play alone
I’ll also need my tackle box and my fishing pole,
And my dad, to take me to the fishing hole.

If it rains out there I’ll just get doused
So for shelter I'll just take the whole house
O.K. I’m ready. I’m going on my way
But it’s heavy, all of this, so I might as well stay.

The tree

noreply@blogger.com (WJH) — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 13:11:00 +0000

A tree spreads out
As it gets bigger
Reaching to heaven
With incredible vigor

People, however
Tend to get disjointed
As we get hurt
And disappointed

We close up
And our dreams disappear
When our hopes are lost
And we're left with just fear

We could learn from that tree
A thing or two or twenty
About how life is good
And how God gives us plenty

Don't let the bad
Undo all the great
See all that's possible
And let love conquer hate

So stand in the sunshine
Laugh in the rain
And realize that joy
Is greater than pain

Stretch like the tree
And don't have a care
Because heaven, my child
Is both here and there

Penny

noreply@blogger.com (WJH) — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 14:20:00 +0000

I found a penny
Picked it up
After all
It was good luck

I took that penny
To a wishing well
I made a wish
And down it fell

To my amazement
My wish came true
When I looked on the ground
And I saw two

Two little pennies
Meant two more wishes
All of this wishing
Was quite delicious

So I made a wish
And gave ‘em a drop
I fully expected
My luck would stop

But there on the ground
Was a shiny new nickel
And from my head to my toes
I was nothing but tickled

My nickel became a dime
My dime became a quarter
And over and over and over
And over

Then I had thousands
Then millions. Then billions
Then whatever the heck
Comes after gazillions.

Now this is one
Remarkable thing
I started with a penny
Now I’m set like a king

But I guess I must’ve
Been here awhile
‘Cuz I’m old and gray
And I started a child

I’ve got little to show
For all of my wishes
No family, no friends
Just a whole lot of riches

If I could go back in time
And go back to that day
I would’ve found someone in need
And given that penny away

Wait! Hold on!
What am I thinking?
I’m at a magic well
I can go back without blinking

So I took the gazillion
And threw it all in
“Take me back to that day”
I said once and again

But nothing happened
All was the same
Just an old man standing
With nothing but shame

Guess you can wish
For as much money as you please
But a wish for more time
Is just a wish on the breeze

I, comma

noreply@blogger.com (WJH) — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 13:35:00 +0000

I’m always stuck in the middle
I never finish my lists
And I don’t have as much fun
as an asterisk.

I try to hold it all together
I’m constantly connecting
And I interrupt thoughts
Whenever I’m reflecting

I don’t start at the beginning
I don’t end at the end
And I look like a quote mark
Who just lost a friend

I’m sorry about the fuss
I don’t mean to cause a drama
(I’ve got it better than the colon)
Guess I’m happy to be a comma.

Reverse

noreply@blogger.com (WJH) — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 21:53:00 +0000

Why is there evil?
So there can be good
Why is there pain?
So comfort's understood
Why is there death?
So we can appreciate life
Why is there dark?
So we can see light
Why is there poor?
So there can be weath
Why is there sickness?
So there may be health

You see, these things exist
So there can be the reverse
So thank God for the good
And don't fear the worst
It's simply a way
To help you be glad
That life is a blessing
On good days and on bad