GARDEN SNAKE BY MURIEL L. SONNE

GARDEN SNAKE BY MURIEL L. SONNE 

Have you ever seen a snake fighting a mongoose, or getting into a hole, or swimming in the river? Everyone, almost everyone, believes that snakes are dangerous. Some are, most are not. Read this poem on a harmless garden snake. 

I saw a snake and ran away... 

Some snakes are dangerous, they say; 

But mother says that kind is good, 

And eats up insects for his food. 

So when he wiggles in the grass 

I’ll stand aside and watch him pass, 

And tell myself, “There’s no mistake, 

It’s just a harmless garden snake!”

MEADOW SURPRISES BY LOIS BRANDT PHILLIPS

MEADOW SURPRISES BY LOIS BRANDT PHILLIPS 

Walk across a green field, a park or even under a clump of trees, and you will notice many wonderful things. What are some of the surprises a meadow has for someone with a keen eye and a sharp ear? 

Meadows have surprises, 

You can find them if you look; 

Walk softly through the velvet grass, 

And listen by the brook. 

You may see a butterfly 

Rest upon a buttercup 

And unfold its drinking straws 

To sip the nectar up. 

You may scare a rabbit 

Who is sitting very still; 

Though at first you may not see him, 

When he hops you will. 

A dandelion whose fuzzy head 

Was golden days ago 

Has turned to airy parachutes 

That flutter when you blow. 

Explore the meadow houses, 

The burrows in the ground, 

A nest beneath tall grasses, 

The ant’s amazing mound. 

Oh! Meadows have surprises 

And many things to tell; 

You may discover these yourself, If you look and listen well.

DAD AND THE CAT AND THE TREE BY KIT WRIGHT

DAD AND THE CAT AND THE TREE BY KIT WRIGHT 

Have you ever seen a cat climbing a tree? Sometimes a cat may climb too high and get stuck in the tree. The poor thing can’t come down without help. How would you help it? Surely, not like Dad in the poem. Is Dad a good climber? What were his plans? Read the poem to find out. 

This morning a cat got 

Stuck in our tree. 

Dad said, “Right, just 

Leave it to me.” 

The tree was wobbly, 

The tree was tall. 

Mum said, “For goodness’ 

Sake don’t fall!” 

“Fall?” scoffed Dad, 

“A climber like me? 

Child’s play, this is! 

You wait and see.” 

He got out the ladder 

From the garden shed. 

It slipped. He landed 

In the flower bed. 

“Never mind,” said Dad, 

Brushing the dirt 

Off his hair and his face 

And his trousers and his shirt, 

“We’ll try Plan B. Stand 

Out of the way!” 

Mum said, “Don’t fall 

Again, O.K.?” 

“Fall again?” said Dad. 

“Funny joke!” 

Then he swung himself up 

On a branch. It broke. 

Dad landed wallop 

Back on the deck. 

Mum said, “Stop it, 

You’ll break your neck!” 

“Rubbish!” said Dad. 

“Now we’ll try Plan C. 

Easy as winking 

To a climber like me!” 

Then he climbed up high 

On the garden wall. 

Guess what? 

He didn’t fall! 

He gave a great leap 

And he landed flat 

In the crook of the tree-trunk — 

Right on the cat! 

The cat gave a yell 

And sprang to the ground, 

Pleased as Punch to be 

Safe and sound. 

So it’s smiling and smirking, 

Smug as can be, 

But poor old Dad’s 

Still 

Stuck 

Up 

The 

Tree!

MYSTERY OF THE TALKING FAN BY MAUDE RUBIN

MYSTERY OF THE TALKING FAN BY MAUDE RUBIN 

Is there a ceiling fan in the room where you are sitting now? Is the fan quiet or noisy? If it is noisy, you may be sure it is a distant relative of the ‘talking fan’ in the poem which you are going to read. 

Once there was a talking fan - 

Electrical his chatter. 

I couldn’t quite hear what he said 

And I hope it doesn’t matter 

Because one day somebody oiled 

His little whirling motor 

And all the mystery was spoiled - 

He ran as still as water.

TREES BY SHIRLEY BAUER

TREES BY SHIRLEY BAUER

Take a few minutes to tell one another the names of trees that you know or have heard of. Mention the things trees give us.
Then read this poem about trees.....

Trees are for birds. 

Trees are for children. 

Trees are to make tree houses in. 

Trees are to swing swings on. 

Trees are for the wind to blow through. 

Trees are to hide behind in ‘Hide and Seek.’ 

Trees are to have tea parties under. 

Trees are for kites to get caught in. 

Trees are to make cool shade in summer. 

Trees are to make no shade in winter. 

Trees are for apples to grow on, and pears; 

Trees are to chop down and call, “TIMBER-R-R!” 

Trees make mothers say, 

“What a lovely picture to paint!” 

Trees make fathers say, 

“What a lot of leaves to rake this fall!”