The Powerful Lesson

Edward went to sleep one night

and he began to dream

he was a mighty dinosaur

that made folks run and scream!

Yes, being large and powerful

seemed nothing short of great,

but Edward was a tiny mouse

so he could not relate.

But then, one day, that tiny mouse,

much to his surprise,

walked into a room of kids

and caused loud screams and cries.

They jumped on desks, just freaking out,

and Edward freaked out too

and quickly scurried from the room —

what else could Edward do?

What Edward learned that fateful day

is power’s a surprise

cause it’s about what others think

and not about your size.

Charlie the Mumbler

Charlie always mumbled,

which drove his mother crazy.

“Speak clearly,” she would yell.

“The way you talk is lazy!”

“Mumble,” he’d retort,

but who knows what he said,

and his mom would sigh

and simply shake her head.

At school, he would mumble

when answering Miss Moore,

who’d smile and nod and think,

her hearing must be poor.

Everyone was tired

of Charlie’s way of talking

and what made Charlie change

was everybody mocking.

Yes, everyone decided

to talk like Charlie did,

and Charlie soon discovered

he understood no kid.

He understood no person!

His mom did not make sense!

His father just confused him,

and Charlie soon got tense.

Then Charlie started yelling,

“Would everybody end

all the horrible mumbling!

You have to stop this trend!”

Charlie spoke so clearly,

he proved to all that heard,

he could no long justify

any mumbled word.

Now Charlie’s understood!

It’s clear what’s in his head,

but most of what dear Charlie says

would best be left unsaid!

My Slow Dog

I really think my dog is slow,

and now I’ll tell you how I know.

Spotty just won’t chase his ball —

with it, he won’t play at all.

And if, for him, I throw a stick,

he doesn’t seem to care a lick.

He only gives his tail a wag,

while “Chase it! Chase it!” I will nag.

To the park he will not go,

and so I think he must be slow.

I guess he’s stupid as a rock —

the only thing he does is talk!

Derek the Donkey

Derek was a donkey

but stubborn like a mule,

and he was determined

to go to public school.

I know that must sound crazy,

as crazy as can be.

Donkeys are not scholars —

most people would agree.

But Derek was not average.

That donkey had a brain!

He taught himself to talk and read,

but how — I can’t explain.

So Derek found a school

and pleaded with Miss Dunn,

who was the school’s principal

and placed him in grade one.

And Derek was successful

in each and every class,

because that donkey never

acted like an ass!

The Grade 7 Dance

Our class’s dance was really dumb;

it was my first one ever.

And to the next one — will I go?

My answer is “Ha! NEVER!”

All the boys just ran around,

playing tag and yelling

while we girls discussed them all

and what they thought? No telling!

Later, Tara, who’s quite brave,

asked a boy to dance,

and he turned the brightest red

and, at her, did not glance.

He started swaying back and forth —

his dancing was so weird,

and as the couple strangely danced,

several kids just sneered.

When the song was at an end,

Tara left the floor,

and we girls decided then —

boys are quite a bore!

Yes, dances in the seventh grade

are just a waste of time,

but in grade eight, they might be fun

cause we’ll be in our prime!

Birthday Party Drama

My birthday was just yesterday,

and now I’m finally eight.

My birthday party was okay,

but it sure wasn’t great.

My mother hired Sam the Clown,

a really funny guy,

but clowns just freak out Sarah Jones,

and that girl sure can cry.

And then I fought with Henry Brown

who is a little creep.

The present that he brought for me,

he said he planned to keep.

I told him that the gift was mine

and wasn’t his to take.

I told him that he had to give,

or he wouldn’t get some cake.

Mom then told me, as the host,

I had to be polite,

and if dumb Henry did not give,

well — that was Henry’s right.

Later, Mrs. Brown arrived

to pick up Henry Brown,

and when she saw he had the gift,

you should have seen her frown.

She made him give me what was mine

while Henry stood and cried.

She made her son apologize,

and I smiled as he lied.

I know that Henry’s really mad,

no matter what he said,

and I expect when he got home,

he had to go to bed.

So though my party wasn’t great,

it wasn’t all that bad,

and I just can’t stop smiling

cause I know that Henry’s mad.

Sitting in This Tree

I’ve climbed this tree in our back yard

against my mother’s wishes.

The reason is she says I must

wash and dry the dishes.

She says since I am growing up

I need to learn to work.

Then something made me really mad —

my little sister’s smirk!

“It isn’t fair!” I shrieked too loud,

sounding kind of crazy.

The reason I was so darn mad

is cause my sister’s lazy.

“Beth can dry!” I said through tears.

“I shouldn’t do it all!”

“She’s too young,” my mother said,

and I began to bawl.

And so I’m sitting in this tree

as mad as I can get,

but climbing up this tree is now

sure something I regret.

Mom has spied me in this tree,

and you should see her frown.

The reason I’m still sitting here is

cause there’s no way down.

Our cat was rescued from this tree

cause fire fighters came,

and when Mom has to phone them soon,

I’ll hang my head in shame.

The next time that I’m mad at Mom,

as mad as I can be —

the only thing that I won’t do

is climb this stupid tree.

Sally’s First Laundry Day

Sally thought she’d do a wash

while Mom was in the yard

planting all the vegetables.

Sal thought it wouldn’t be hard.

She threw in dirty clothes she found,

some blue, some red, some white,

and several other colours.

She’d wash them with delight.

On the washer she read dials

and made the water “hot”.

Then she poured detergent in,

and I mean quite a lot.

Of course, she learned what not to do,

and she was really sad,

cause after drying all the clothes,

she saw that they looked bad!

Several things had shrunken lots,

and so could not be worn.

Sally ruined her favourite jeans,

and that sure made her mourn.

Dad’s white shirts were pinky pink,

just like Mom’s white skirt.

“But,” sobbed Sally to her folks,

“Notice — there’s no dirt!”

The Final Fit

Sarah was a bratty girl:

she wanted things her way,

and if she wasn’t happy,

she put on a display.

She’d pout and cry and stomp her foot.

She’d flop right on the floor,

and her mother would turn red

if they were in a store.

But then one day, while in a shop,

she threw her final fit,

because a big boy walking by

said she was just a twit.

When Sarah heard his words that day,

her fit came to a stop.

She look around, embarrassed,

at the people in the shop.

Now today, she’s not a brat.

In fact, she just spreads joy,

hoping that she’ll meet again

that truly handsome boy!

Benny Got a Pogo Stick

Benny got a pogo stick

which really was a shame,

cause pogoing his way through town

became his only aim.

He climbed up on his pogo stick,

and he began to bound,

plunging off whatever thing

that reckless twit-head found.

He pogoed off a great big rock!

He pogoed off a fence!

He pogoed off the neighbours’ dog

which made the neighbours tense.

He pogoed to a parking lot

and pogoed off some cars,

then pogoed to a children’s park

and off the monkey bars!

He unnerved everyone he met,

and none could make him stop,

until that silly, reckless boy

pogoed off a cop!