Category: Australian Childrens Poetry Prompts

Ask a Poet – At Ask an Author

It was such a highlight to have this wonderful chat with the effervescent Michelle Worthington, from Share Your Story

We tackled some cool questions from children about what it is like to be a poet!

There are many other inspiring interviews with other creatives, such as Candice Lemon Scott, Dannika Patterson, Karen Tyrell,  just to name a few,  so do check out Ask a Creative with Michelle

There are interviews with a clown, comedian, authors, illustrators and more!

Thank you Michelle for having me as a guest in this series.

ALEA 42nd Writers’ Festival

The 42nd ALEA Meanjin – Brisbane area – Australian Literacy Educators’ Association Young Writers’ Festival (for students from Years 5 to 10) is being held on Thursday 4 July at Griffith University Mt Gravatt Campus.
Featuring a Keynote from Morris Gleitzman and four workshops with a wonderful line up of authors, poets and illustrators – Candice Lemon-Scott; Gregg Dreise; June Perkins and Katrin Dreiling.
Bookings open from the 7th of June https://www.alea.edu.au/events/event/alea-meanjin-42nd-writers-camp   (The link should work from the 7/06)

Obligation of the Octopus

W Tipton, Some Rights Reserved, Flickr Photographer

 

Arms with minds of their own.
A body that can morph through
openings.

Three hearts beating
boom, boom, boom
to the call of the
ocean.

Like escapologists
obligated when opportunity
presents itself
to freedom
beyond the tank.

Blue blood
beating, beating, beating.

Octopus of song.
Octopus of story.
Octopus of science.

 

By June Perkins

This poem appeared at Australian Children’s Poetry

Prompt #26 Baby Shark Dance Prompt

This prompt is going to be fun.

Thanks Australian Children’s Poetry.

My teenagers were telling me high schoolers sing this in the playground to annoy each other.

That’s when you know something has really gone viral.

But I have to admit I had never heard of it until today.

Australian Children’s Poetry Website

Any one of you who has little children, grandchildren or works in a school may have heard this song?

What can you write about Sharks?

Please send poems to:

poemoftheday.jaxton@gmail.com

Cheers

Jeanie

And this weeks quote:

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Haystack

Image: William Delafield Cook A haystack 1982, Courtesy of the Queensland Art Gallery

 

Look! Rats and the children run out from
their hiding places in the haystack to
dance in front of us in a merry line?
Who else do you think hides here?

Do you have a memory of haystacks or
artist’s haystacks?

(Perceval’s Angel)

 

Tumble down the Haystack
dreaming columns of Greece.

Tumble down the Haystack
​             with childhood farming friends.

​Tumble down the Haystack
​             to horses and the cows.

Now,
climb up that artist’s Haystack
and tumble down again.

 

June Perkins (Brisbane-based poet and children’s author)​

 

This appeared on Australian Children’s Poetry blog today, and is currently up at the Queensland Art Gallery.

***

June cover page-4
John Perceval Sculpture: The Herald Angel 1958 Ray Crooke, Woman with Blossoms

Dr June Perkins, a Brisbane based poet and children’s author, has developed an interactive journey, through the Australian Collection, through poems and micro-stories for visitors of all ages, with particular appeal for children and families: Art Adventures in the Australian Collection.  

She invites you to follow the angel, follow the feathers, follow the art.

This adventure is part of Words & Pictures, an ongoing project that invites local artists and writers to respond to artworks in the Australian Collection of the Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane.

Visitors to the gallery are invited to take inspiration, and use the pencils and paper provided at the stations to create their own response through drawing or writing.

There are 12 pieces in all. ‘Haystack,’ was inspired by William Delafield Cook, A Haystack.

Perceval’s Angel is a character who takes the children on an adventure into the art gallery and so is often quoted.

From September – to November, this link will lead you to the poems and the art if you can’t make it there in person to visit the adventure.  Words on display from September to November.

https://www.qagoma.qld.gov.au/whats-on/exhibitions/australian-collection/quiet

A slide show preview can be found here https://ripplepoetry.wordpress.com/2018/09/02/wordsandpictures/

Mermaids and Monster Trucks

 

Monster Truck Boys, Monster Truck Boys
they love to drive their Monster trucks.

Mermaid Girls, Mermaid Girls
swimming with the dolphins
go the Mermaid Girls.

Mermaid Girls and Monster Truck Boys
Now they go to school
Could there be a duel?

Mermaid Girls watch the Monster Truck Boys.
Monster Truck Boys watch the Mermaid Girls.

Mermaid Girls, Mermaid Girls
super diving Mermaid Girls.

Monster Truck Boys, Monster Truck Boys
super driving monster trucks.

Mermaid Girls and Monster Truck Boys
They’re playing at magic school
which has a friendly rule.

Mermaid Girls can play with Monster Truck Boys.
Monster Truck Boys can play with Mermaid Girls.

Mermaid Girls talk to Monster Truck Boys.
Monster Truck Boys talk to Mermaid Girls.

Soon Monster Truck Boys
like swimming in the sea.
They’re jumping and bumping
in the sea.

Now Mermaid Girls
like driving monster trucks
as if they’re giant seals.

Mermaid Girls and Monster Truck Boys
They’re all cool
And they all love school.
Their friendships are like jewels.

Monster Truck Boys, Monster Truck Boys
swimming with the dolphins
now they’re Mermaid Boys.

Mermaid Girls, Mermaid girls
Super driving, super dreaming

Now they’re Monster Truck Girls.

(c) June Perkins, first appeared July 18th 2018, on Australian Children’s Poetry

Grass Skirt

My latest poem published by Australian Children’s Poetry in response to the prompt word association.

Australian Children’s Poetry Website

Grass Skirt

Kilt clan patterns

Mother’s hands twisting string for homemade

video to keep tradition strong

Once made from plants now plastic too

Scratching identity from legs to ankles

Calling out for head dress and for beads

Bare feet beating dance on earth

Sway and swish

Past, present and future steps

Given by my mother to say

You are grown

By   June Perkins

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