Poems We Have Read in Class

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The Birthday

My birthday is a week on Monday

Last year it was on Sunday

It doesn’t matter anyway

I was born on a Saturday.

It’s odd how birthdays don’t just stay

They hope around from day to day.

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Fuzzy Little Caterpillar

Fuzzy little caterpillar,

Crawling, crawling on the ground,

Fuzzy little caterpillar,

Nowhere, nowhere to be found

Though we’ve looked and looked and hunted,

Everywhere around!

When the little caterpillar

Found his furry coat too tight,

Then a snug cocoon he made him,

Spun of silk so soft and light,

Rolled himself away within it—

Slept there day and night.

See how this cocoon is stirring –

Now a little head we spy. 

What!  Is this our caterpillar,

Spreading gorgeous wings to dry?

Soon the free and happy creature

Flutters gaily by.

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I Slipped on a Banana Peel

by: Kenn Nesbitt

Copyright © 1999 Kenn Nesbitt. All Rights Reserved

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If

by Shel Silverstein from A Light in the Attic

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The Contraction Song
(to the tune of "London Bridge is Falling Down")

http://www.canteach.ca/elementary/songspoems31.html

I'm the first word; don't change me!
Don't change me, don't change me.
I'm the first word; don't change me!
Oh, no, just let me be.

When you change the second word,
Second word, second word,
When you change the second word,
A shorter word you'll see.

Certain letters are taken out,
Taken out, taken out.
Certain letters are taken out.
One word will remain.

Apostrophe will fill that space,
Fill that space, fill that space.
Apostrophe will fill that space,
The rest will stay the same.

Can't and couldn't, isn't, too.
Isn't, too, isn't, too,
Won't and I've and let's, it's true,
Contractions every one.

I'm and she's and you're and he'd,
You're and he'd, you're and he'd,
Wouldn't, didn't, we'll and she'd,
Good! And now we're done.

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I love fall! Fall is exciting.
It's apples and cider.
It's an airborne spider.
It's pumpkins in bins.
It's burrs on dog's chins.
It's wind blowing leaves.
It's chilly red knees.
It's nuts on the ground.
It's a crisp dry sound.
It's green leaves turning
And the smell of them burning.
It's clouds in the sky.
It's fall. That's why...
I love fall.

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September

from Sing a Song of Poetry by Pinnell & Fountas

The breezes taste
     Of apple peel.
The air is full
     Of smells to feel-
Ripe fruit, old footballs,
     Burning brush,
New books, erasers,
     Chalk, and such.
The bee, his hive,
     Well-honeyed hum,
And Mother cuts
     Chrysanthemums.
Like plates washed clean
     With suds, the days
Are polished with
     A morning haze.

by John Updike

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Autumn Wind

from Sing a Song of Poetry by Pinnell & Fountas

When autumn wind goes running
It does some magic things.
It gives the shadows dancing shoes,
It gives the bright leaves wings -
When autumn wind goes running.

It curls the bonfire's tail of smoke
And shares a little whispered joke
With cornstalks who delight to prattle,
It turns a seed pod into a rattle -
When autumn wind goes running.

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The Leaves of the Trees
(to the tune of "The Wheels on the Bus")

from Sing a Song of Poetry by Pinnell & Fountas

The leaves of the trees turn orange and red
orange and red, orange and red
The leaves of the trees turn orange and red
All through the town.

The leaves of the trees come tumbling down
tumbling down, tumbling down
The leaves of the trees come tumbling down
All through the town.

The leaves on the ground go swish, swish, swish
Swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish,
The leaves on the ground go swish, swish, swish
All through the town.

by Irmgard Guertges

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Beetle
by: John Cotton

     Glossy black beetle
Gracefully walking
In your forest of grass.
A nest of leaves,
A crack in the wall,
You're safe at home at last!

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Dogs

by Sydney Kirschner (aged 9)

Some dogs are fluffy
Some dogs are tall
Some dogs are long & hairy
and some are small.

Some dogs are black
Some dogs are brown
All dogs make you happy
When you are down.

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SNAKES

by Harry Lowndes (aged 9)

Snakes are fragile
Not to be played with
Agile, and some can
Kill, like a King Cobra
Elegantly
Slithering...

 

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Can You Catch My Drift?

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