Posts Tagged ‘chidren’s poetry’

The list of acceptable ideas

June 6, 2023 

I once met a traveler
From a foreign land
He beguiled our village
Taking about his clan

He told us thoughts were free
Like the air we breathe
And there isn't any list
Of acceptable ideas

We laughed and hollered
We slapped our knees
That man was crazy
As a basket full of bees 

Without instructions
Nothing makes sense
You'll say the wrong thing
You'll surely give offense

We showed him the list
That's pinned to the wall
In every building
And meeting hall

It tells us what to think
It tells us what to say
Folks who disagree
Are quickly sent away

The list brings order
The list brings peace
The list brings love
And harmony

Without the list
Life would be insane
Who would we bless?
And who would we blame?

That kooky old traveler
Just shook his head
He sneaked away quiet
When we were still in bed

by Richard W. Bray

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Thin Ice

September 7, 2010

My teacher got annoyed and said,
“You’re skating on thin ice”
I said, “Let’s make some snow cones”
And I got detention twice

The skeleton in my closet
Cannot come out to play
It’s not that I have secrets
I’m scared he’ll run away

If the fork in the road
Had been a spoon
My piano would be
Out of tune

We can cross that bridge
If we actually get to it
Or we could swim the moat
I’m not afraid to do it

Did you pull my leg?
Or did you really lose my keys?
I can no longer walk
You dislocated both my knees

I threw my watch off the cliff
To see if time would fly
My daddy sent me after it
I’m not a happy guy

“Do you want to wet your whistle
With pop or tea?”
“Can I please have a drink?
I’m not a referee”

“If you don’t do your chores
You’ll be in hot water”
“I really can’t believe
That you’d boil your only daughter”

by Richard W. Bray

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Posted in Poetry for Kids | 1 Comment »