KIDS

I started off with the goal of creating a book of poetry for children called "Silly & Serious." I wrote about 50 poems that I liked. Now I'm thinking that each of these poems--mostly they are little stories, page turners actually--could be a book unto itself. (I'm working with artists to create illustrations for some of the poems now. See "Lucie and Brucie" below.)

THE DOG AND THE CAT

There was a dog who loved a cat.
Now what do you think of that?

Every day when they would play
the dog would worry and say:

I'm supposed to fight you,
but I don't want to bite you.

When I don't see you, I miss you.
All I want to do is kiss you.

But a dog is not supposed to love a cat...
I just don't know what to think of that

Dear Dog, said the smiling cat,
let's have a little chat.

I'm so lucky I found you;
and you feel the same way, too.

So, said Cat, let's leave it at that!

Now, rub your whiskers up against mine
and promise you'll be my Valentine.

You are so right, Dog did declare,
I'm so delighted that we're a pair.

So they stood there holding paws
while their friends clapped applause.




A FISH NAMED WALLY

A fish named Wally living in a lake
decided he must make his break.

He thought he must swin to the sea
in order to be really free.

Even though his friends said, "Dope!"
he swam along with a surge of hope.

But the sea was salty and very rough.
Wally said, "I'm not used to this stuff.

Oh dear, I have got my wish
but now I am one seasick fish.

And my fins are turning pink.
I don't know what to think!"

Wally remembered his other home,
wondering why he had to roam,
and his heart started to ache
dreaming of his lovely lake.




TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING

Mickey's Mom
had a green thumb.
She planted seeds of every type--
before you knew it, they were green and ripe.
From her every whim,
Mickey knew, grew a stem.
All she needed was a pot and mud
and within a week she had a bud.

"Don't you know," said Mickey's Mom,
"every flower is your chum.
Each one is a work of art
bringing joy to your heart.
I love to watch things grow
and grow....and grow....and grow...."

********[TWO PAGES MORE]




LUCIE AND BRUCIE

A goosie named Lucie
fell in love with a moosie
named Brucie.

Or so she said--
and her loving talk
went right to his head.
And that moosie named Brucie
went about with his antlers held high
and a proud look in his eye.
But was Lucie's love a lie?

*****[ALMOST TWO PAGES MORE]