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  • suitable for children
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suitable for children

A selection of poems that are suitable for children from the Scottish Poetry Library online collection.

Listen tae the Teacher

{ Poem }

He’s five year auld, he’s aff tae school,Fairmer’s bairn, wi a pencil an a rule,His teacher scoffs when he says ‘hoose’,‘The word is “house”, you silly little goose.’He tells his Ma when he gets backHe saw a ‘mouse’ in an auld cairt track.His father laughs fae the stack-yard dyke, ‘Yon’s a “moose”, ye daft wee […]

Fi’baw in the Street - by Robert Garioch

{ Poem }

Shote! here’s the poliss,
the Gayfield poliss,
an thull pi’iz in the nick fir
pleyan fi’baw in the street!

Sarah: Fed Up - by Janet Paisley

{ Poem }

See ma mammy;
says eat yer dinner.
Gies me cabbidge.

Mrs Nae Offence - by Gregor Steele

{ Poem }

We cry her Mrs Nae Offence –
That’s whit she likes tae say

Who’s In? - by Elizabeth Fleming

{ Poem }

‘The door is shut fast And everyone’s out.’ But people don’t know What they’re talking about! Say the fly on the wall, And the flame on the coals, And the dog on his rug, And the mice in their holes, And the kitten curled up, And the spiders that spin — ‘What, everyone out? Why, […]

Wild Animals - by Elizabeth Fleming

{ Poem }

I like a mouseWhen he’s not in my house,And a ratWhen he goes nibble, nibble, like that.I like a mole; he’s a kind little soul,And a stoatWith a smudge like snow on his throat.I like a shrewWith his nose in the dew,And a hare,For he leaps and runs everywhere;I like a foxWith his little white […]

Traditional - by Catriona Lexy Campbell

{ Poem }

Tha sìol beag san talamh
Ach ciamar a nì e fàs?

Woolly Bear - by Valerie Gillies

{ Poem }

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

Happiness - by Stuart A. Paterson

{ Poem }

I’ve made my own Museum of / Happiness, which isn’t built of brick / or stone or wood…

Poetry Forum - by Helena Nelson

{ Poem }

What is poetry for? (Maitreyabhandu)
/
/ It’s for weddings
/ and funerals
/ and reading on the train
/ and for taking a person out of herself
/ and bringing…

I Opened A Book - by Julia Donaldson

{ Poem }

I opened a book and in I strode
/ Now nobody can find me.
/ I’ve left my chair, my house, my road,
/ My town…

Embro: Southside Ditties - by Gordon Jarvie

{ Poem }

Tune: Ti, ti, ti, ta (wi’ apologies tae Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony)
/
/ I
/
/ Duddingston Loch
/ Skate ower…

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