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Woolly Bear

Valerie Gillies

Woolly, woolly bear
Who feeds on the weeds,
Hurry furry chestnut,
Move at speed.

Wee hairy wobat
Warming in the sun,
On curlywurly loops
Many feet run.

By dandelion and nettle
Wriggly-squiggly crawl,
When you are touched,
Curl up in a ball.

Woolly, woolly bear,
Ginger-beer froth,
Vanish and change
Into a tiger moth.


Valerie Gillies

From The Thing that Mattered Most: Scottish poems for children edited by Julie Johnstone (SPL/B&W, 2006).

Reproduced by permission of the author.

Tags:

English National Poetry Day 2018 suitable for children

About this poem

This poem was selected for National Poetry Day, 2018.

Learning Resources

SQA Key: National 5        Higher
  • Woolly Bear Teaching Notes

    Choose from the following activities to build your own Level One poetry lessons.
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Poster

Woolly Bear

One of our National Poetry Day 2018 poems. Is it the poem really about a bear? Valerie Gillies describes the changes in a bug’s life.
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Valerie Gilliesb.1948

Valerie Gillies was the second Edinburgh City Makar, from 2005 to 2008, and was instrumental in shaping the role. She is the author of nine collections of poetry and frequently collaborates with artists.
More about Valerie Gillies

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