Saturday, 13 February 2010

Aimée

Aimée

She said don’t be lonely
She said don’t be sad
She said that I was
The best grandma she had

We talked and we talked
As we walked in the sun
The day was so special
We laughed and had fun

She said that she loved me
That all would be well
Then fell asleep in my arms
And a lone teardrop fell

©Marian Barker

Saturday, 6 February 2010

Christmas in the Forest

Christmas in the Forest

I’ve been invited to a party
With some special friends of mine
Who live in the enchanted forest
Now isn’t that just fine?

I’ve got them all a present
A token just to show
That Christmas is so special
And for giving don’t you know?

I found a little thimble
In grandma’s sewing tin
That’ll make a lovely throne
Fit for a fairy king

A little empty matchbox
With some cotton wool inside
Makes such a special bed
For the fairy queen to hide

I’ve gathered lots of acorns
And taken off their caps
I thought they might be useful
For drinking from - perhaps?

I’ve collected lots of feathers
From the chickens in the pen
I’d made some tiny duvets
The elves will be pleased with them

I’ve put the presents in a pillow case
And now it’s time to go
For fairy cakes and lemonade
In the forest, in the snow

©Marian Barker

Wednesday, 3 February 2010

Buttons

Buttons

When I was just a little child
Sat at my mother’s knee
She used to tell me stories
We didn’t watch TV

She had a box of buttons
She took down from the shelves
And for hours upon hours
We would entertain ourselves

The buttons held many memories
For mother and for me
They captured special moments
In our family history

A military button from my granddad
For he was very brave
He fought for king and country
It said so on his grave

A tiny pearl from grandma
I really must confess
This was my very favourite
It was from her wedding dress

A shiny silver button
From the blazer dad once wore
When he went to watch the cricket
Hoping that his team would score

A little yellow button
With a flower on from me
From my tiny little jacket
That mum called a matinee

A woggle from the cub scouts
Was amongst the fine array
My brothers went there once or twice
But didn’t want to stay

Those buttons taught me colours
And taught me how to count
They taught me shapes and sizes
Of that there is no doubt

Now I’ve got a box of buttons
I take down from my shelves
And tell stories to my grandchildren
We do enjoy ourselves

©Marian Barker

Denis the Dinosaur

Denis the Dinosaur

Millions of years ago
Before snow and ice
There lived many creatures
Some nasty, some nice

One cute little chap
All covered with scales
Had points on his back
And claws for his nails

His mum called him Denis
I don’t know what for
But I cannot ask why
‘cos dinosaurs are no more

©Marian Barker

Teddy Polar Bear – Gone but not Forgotten

Teddy Polar Bear – Gone but not Forgotten

On the seventh day of February
My mummy said to me
“We’re going off to Bordeaux
To see what we can see
First we’re going to Ikea
So don’t you make a fuss
And if you‘re good we’ll take you
To look round Toys-r-Us”

I had some birthday money
Mum had my Euros in her purse
But before I’d chance to spend them
Things went from bad to worse
We were playing in a ball pool
When my sister lost her tooth
Then she had to get a letter
So the tooth fairy knew the truth

We then went to the toyshop
Now that was much more fun
I spent my birthday money
I bought myself a gun
Next we went to have some dinner
That was another treat
So many lovely things to choose from
So much tasty food to eat

The day still wasn’t over
We’d more shopping left to do
And when we’d filled the trolley
We had to join the queue
Our day was nearly ended
Mummy said I’d been a star
I waited very patiently
As they loaded up the car

By then I was feeling sleepy
We’d had such a busy day
I looked around for teddy
But he had gone away
Who knows where I had left him
I didn’t have a clue
I cried because I’d lost him
And I bet that he cried too

I miss dear Teddy polar Bear
But I hope my favourite toy
Has found another playmate
A little girl or boy

©Marian Barker

Teddy Polar Bear Goes to the Beach

Teddy Polar Bear Goes to the Beach

We set off to the seaside
Aimee, Louis, Gran and me
For my very first adventure
Beside the big blue sea

We went a little journey
It wasn't very far
We travelled very safely
Louis held me in the car

And when the doors were opened
I couldn't believe my eyes
The sea was very sparkly
That was a big surprise

The sun was very shiny
The sand was smooth and white
Louis sat me on a great big stone
That gave me such a fright

They took their shoes and socks off
And placed them next to me
They said they wouldn't be long
They were going to the sea

They ran away and left me
While they played upon the shore
I really didn't like it
And won't go there anymore

©Marian Barker

Teddy Polar Bear Goes Missing

Teddy Polar Bear Goes Missing

Today was really horrid
Today was very weird
Today was sad because
Teddy Polar Bear disappeared

He was in my bed this morning
When I woke and rubbed my eyes
But he wasn’t there this afternoon
That was a big surprise

He’s usually right beside me
Or waiting on the chair
But when I went to have my nap
Teddy Polar Bear wasn’t there

I looked under the table
I looked in Mummy’s car
I looked behind the settee
He couldn’t have gone far

I went and asked my Sister
If she knew where he had gone
Perhaps he was beneath the cushion
That she was sitting on?

Alas I couldn’t find him
My Mummy said “look son
The last time that I saw him
You were feeding him a bun”

Then I suddenly remembered
Where I’d left that little soul
I’d put poor Teddy Polar Bear
In Mummy’s mixing bowl!

So quickly he was rescued
He had only been gone an hour
I dusted him down a little bit
As he was covered in flour

Teddy Polar Bear was angry
He really wasn’t faking
He won’t go in the kitchen
Next time my Mummy’s baking

©Marian Barker

Teddy Polar Bear has a Friend

Teddy Polar Bear has a Friend

Gaston’s a hedgehog puppet
We see at school each day
It seemed a very good idea
That he should come and stay

Teacher put him in his little sac
Of blue which had his name
He didn’t seem to mind you see
He thought it was a game

We brought him home together
We sat him down to tea
And when it came to bedtime
Louis put him next to me

We’d found him some pyjamas
In a bag of dolly’s clothes
He smiled and he was happy
He looked so cute in those

And then when it was morning
His stay was soon to end
For we had to take him back to school
For Gaston’s everybody’s friend

©Marian Barker

Teddy Polar Bear Goes to School

Teddy Polar Bear Goes to School

I started school on Tuesday
Some said it was a crime
To take me from my Mummy
She said that it was time
I had my photo taken
I smiled a great big grin
I had a brand new backpack
To put Teddy Polar Bear in
He was a little frightened
When I put him in the car
I said it wouldn’t take long
We didn’t have to travel far
He was a little worried
When he saw the girls and boys
But Teddy Polar Bear was happy
When he saw all the other toys
Someone had brought a dolly
Someone had brought a frog
Another brought an elephant
Whilst one boy brought a dog
The toys were put together
In a little room next door
All a little nervous
Not knowing what was in store
We children went to sing a song
And hear a tale or two
And little Teddy Polar Bear
Didn’t quite know what to do
He said "hello" to elephant
He said "bonjour" to frog
He smiled at the little dolly
And waved at spotty dog
Then shortly after dinner
We had to take a nap
Teddy Polar Bear was happy
When I sat him on my lap
And as I laid upon the bed
I sighed a little sigh
I cuddled Teddy Polar Bear
And he told me not to cry
We’re going back tomorrow
You see that is the rule
For me and Teddy Polar Bear
Both have to go to school

©Marian Barker

Teddy Polar Bear Goes on Holiday

Teddy Polar Bear Goes on Holiday

Teddy went on holiday
I took him on a plane
I took him to England
And I brought him back again

Teddy had a mishap
As I sat him on my knee
He wasn’t very happy
I was sick on him you see

Teddy had then to travel
In a plastic carrier bag
And when we reached Great Grandma’s
He was like a washed out rag

Teddy then had an adventure
Inside Great Grandma’s washer
He came out very clean and fresh
I’ve never seen him posher

Teddy had an accident
As he journeyed home again
His head fell off his shoulders
He had stuffing for a brain

Teddy had an operation
On the wooden dining table
Grandma stitched his head back on
As best as she was able

Teddy doesn’t want to travel
Anymore by car or boat or plane
He says he’d rather stay at home
Than go on holiday again

©Marian Barker

Toys Were Us

Toys Were Us

A clothes horse was a castle
When covered with a coat
The kitchen table upside down
Became a pirate boat

A saucepan and two wooden spoons
Just made an awesome noise
We didn’t spend a fortune
On entertainment or on toys

A fairy liquid bottle
And some sticky sort of plastic
Made a supersonic rocket
Now that was just fantastic

Two cocoa tins, a bit of string
Became a telephone
And with a friend invisible
You never played alone

Computer games and consoles
Are the newest fascination
But the greatest games are those
Which use a child’s imagination

©Marian Barker

The Gathering

The Gathering

I crept into the woods last night
And there beheld a wondrous sight
I stood behind the great big oak
Enchanted by the fairy folk

I watched them gather one and all
Treasures that on the earth did fall
Acorns and chestnuts by the score
Hiding them safely in their store

I heard them sing their melodies
Their voices ringing through the trees
Those little folk with clothes of green
And the happiest faces I’d ever seen

I peeped inside the fallen tree
All hollowed out in front of me
And saw the tiny beds in line
Waiting there for wintertime

I tiptoed by without a sound
And left no mark upon the ground
I didn’t want to cause a scare
But I’m sure they knew that I was there

©Marian Barker

The Little Green Man

The Little Green Man

Deep in the forest
Where nobody goes
There sits a green man
With bright orange toes

He sings to the animals
He talks to the trees
He eats what he wants
Whenever he please

He dances at dawn
With the wind in his hair
He doesn’t wear clothes
He hasn’t a care

He bathes in the pool
Then he runs to and fro
Nobody to tell him
To come or to go

He’s as free as the wind
He hasn’t a name
He’s just a little green man
They all look the same

©Marian Barker

A Boy at Six

Happy Birthday Louis 31st January 2010

A Boy at Six

A boy at six
Plays Star Wars games
Loves all the characters
And knows their names

A boy at six
Stands tall and strong
He’s growing up
Knows right from wrong

A boy at six
Pretends to fight
But still likes cuddles
Every night

A boy at six
Has room to grow
Into a man
You’ll love to know

©Marian Barker

On Being Eight

Written for Aimee on 2nd January 2010

On Being Eight

Britney Spears
J.L.S
My bedroom floor
Is such a mess

Kelly Clarkson
Black Eyed Peas
I love the songs
Of all of these

Snazzy trousers
Jazzy top
The music's never
Going to stop

Dancing round
And up quite late
I think I might like
Being eight

©Marian Barker

Light Years Ahead

Light Years Ahead

I climbed into the spaceship
The countdown had begun
I heard the captain saying
“Five…four…three...two…one”

I wore a shiny spacesuit
The takeoff would be soon
I fastened tight my seatbelt
As we took off for the moon

I saw the Earth beneath me
It felt great to be alive
And journey in a spaceship
When I was only five

We sped along the Milky Way
And sailed through seas of stars
We whizzed passed Pluto, Venus,
Saturn, Jupiter and Mars

The captain let me take control
He showed me all the tricks
We landed back next morning
And I found that I was six

©Marian Barker