For many years I visited schools with Road Safety Officers in East Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, Darlington and Durham using poetry to get across the road safety messages. Below are a few of my own poems on that theme. These poems are copyrighted to me. That means if you want to use them in the classroom that is OK, but if you want to use them in any kind of publication or performance, you need to have my written permission, so please contact me.
Lady Lollipop
Lollipop Lady
Lady Lollipop
She’s got the power
To make the traffic stop
When she steps out
With her lollipop sign
The people on the pavement
Sure feel fine
They know they can go
They’ll be OK
‘Thank you very much’
Is what they all should say
To the lollipop lady
Lady Lollipop
She’s got the power
To make the traffic stop
She’s there for me
She’s there for you
Standing in the rain
Doing what she’s got to do
She makes it safe
For us to cross
Halts all the traffic
Shows who’s boss
It’s the lollipop lady
Lady Lollipop
She’s got the power
To make the traffic stop
She’s the lollipop lady
Lady Lollipop
And she’s got the power
She’s got the power
She’s got the power
To make the traffic…STOP!
Be A Brainy Biker
Your brain is brilliant
Keep it safe and sound
Encase it in a helmet
In case it hits the ground
Your life is precious
Don’t throw it away
Stick a helmet on your head
If you bike today
Check It Out
If you’ve got a bike
Check it out
Before you ride
Check it out
Do your brakes work?
Are your tyres OK?
Is your seat wobbly?
Will you be safe today?
Check it out
Check it out
Do your lights shine?
Are your reflectors clean?
Can you see where you’re going?
Can you be seen?
Check it out
Check it out
Are your hands on the handlebars?
Are you in the right gear?
Do you know how to signal?
Is your helmet secure?
Check it out
Check it out
To make sure your bike
Is as good as new
Now you know
What you should do
Check it out
No fussing
Check it out
No messing
Check it out
And you’ll be laughing
Check it out
Check it out
Check it out out out
All three poems above are from ‘Wanted Alive’ by Bernard Young, Hands up Books 2004, which is available to buy from the books page on this site.
Bernard Young Poet 