Poet Bernard Young Classroom ideas, Poem

Bonfire night: fireworks, sparklers, toffee and poems

All the fireworks popping in the sky where I live makes me think what a stimulating time to be creating poems. So I’ve written a new poem for children for bonfire night that doesn’t appear in any of my books (since I wrote it today).

Choosing Fireworks

I bet
you’d like
a Confetti Canon
and a Crackling Comet.

I’m sure
you’d go for
a Jumping Jack
and a Flying Saucer.

I guess
you could handle a Sparkler
and get a thrill
from a Roman Candle.

And you’d feel
fine watching a Catherine Wheel
go round and round and round
wouldn’t you?

But what you don’t want,
you really don’t want,
because it’s definitely no good,
is a…

DUD!

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Some other bonfire night poetry resources

And a Video about the origins

Karen Classroom ideas, Poem

Teaching Road Safety Through Poetry

This February and March, I am happy to be visiting schools in North Yorkshire and Durham again with the Road Safety staff, getting the message across to young people through the medium of poetry.

School crossing patrol safety equipment

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!

From Wanted Alive by Bernard Young, Hands up Books 2004

Karen Poem

Poetry all year, please, not just for National Poetry Day!

Image of a closing down sale board uotside a shop

Closing Down

Haiku – in a bin
at the bottom of the aisle
next to the sonnets.

Limericks have had their day
It’s clear they’ve got nothing to say
Some find them rude
Vulgar and crude
They’re free if you’ll take them away

Free Verse is draped all over the shop.
Although it’s free
there is a modest charge
for each clump of words.

Cinquains
are down aisle five.
You can hear them counting
their syllables. Eight in this line.
Buy two?

Karen Music, Video

New video ‘Zoot’ for National Poetry Day 4 October

In 2012, UK National Poetry Day is on Thursday 4 October.  The theme is STARS.  Be a star, read, write or buy some poetry.

Karen Music, Video

Video of Traffic Jam

This is a poem that I do regularly as part of a school performance. It can go on a lot longer than this. Bet you end up humming it to yourself afterwards.