More Children of the Valley Poems for your enjoyment

Just over 30 years ago Julie Meddows, at the time a valley resident, compiled and edited a booklet titled ‘Children of the Valley, a collection of poems’. The booklet was

Published 1st June 2024 By Compiled by Bruce Preston
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Just over 30 years ago Julie Meddows, at the time a valley resident, compiled and edited a booklet titled ‘Children of the Valley, a collection of poems’. The booklet was published by the Kangaroo Valley P&C Association in 1993, and the present P&C has given me permission to feature the poems in the Voice.

As I was in the valley at the time, and lived next door to the KV School which my three children attended, I knew most of the children featured. Of course, they are now mothers and fathers of their own children, and some no longer live in the valley.

Since there are many poems in the booklet, I thought it appropriate to have published in the Voice, perhaps a couple in each issue, which will take several months of submission. The foreword to the booklet just about sums up the wonderful minds and lives of children aged from 5 to 12 in their own world, so I have reproduced the following from the book.

“When our children pick up a pen to draw, or a brush to paint, we witness art in its purest form. That splatted dandelion is an orchid, the stick person is someone dearly loved, the spiked blob, a brilliant moon. When children write poetry they paint pictures with words, brushing in that same raw honesty. As we grow older these primitive pictures fade and poetry loses its colour, its essential truth, and more often its simplicity.

The poetry of our children’s world is irreplaceable. 

In this collection of poems by the children of Kangaroo Valley, the child in you will live again, refreshed by the beauty, tragedy, and humour of a child’s world, painted in words.

It is also a tribute to our teachers at Kangaroo Valley Public School and the parents who encourage and inspire our children to write poetry.

We hope you enjoy the collection of poems.”

Sadly, Julie Meddows passed away a couple of years ago.

 

Bruce Preston

Fish

 

By Phoebe Garrett (9)

 

I like fish,

Their tails go swish

They all have fins

But they don’t have chins

They do have gills

And don’t take pills

Most fish swim

They look quite trim

I like fish

Their fins go swish

Some are gold

Some like the cold

Most fish swim

Some fish walk

But I don’t think

Any fish talk

Fish come in different breeds

Some fish eat the ocean weeds

I like fish

Their tails go swish

 

The Green and Peaceful Valley

 

By Sarah Darby (10)

 

The mountains so big and tall

The green grass so lush and cool

The bluey green rapidly flowing river

The green trees when in the wind they slightly shiver

The little kids in the school yard

Running round the playground laughing so hard

The little cottages spaced about

The cows and horses drinking out of the freshwater spout.

 

Flying Horse 

By Sarah Darby (10)

 

As the dawn is breaking, white horses with gold and silver manes

Gallop past the new sunlight time and time again

When it is the last time for the beautiful horses to gallop by

They jump and start to fly so high, they look like they touch the sky

I run and find a castle and climb the turret so high

Then I look out into the moon light sky

I see the beautiful horses flying by

They looked just as beautiful as before

When they jumped up into the sky

 

 

It’s not always easy

 

By Jessica Furness (12)

 

Life as a child is not always easy

Growing up must be a chore

I dread the thought of it more and more

I wonder what it is like to be dead and gone

Life as a child is not always easy

 

What would it like to be old, I think

What must I do to lead a life so different

All these things go through my mind

Life as a child is not always easy

 

To live a life all of my own

To look after children, through parenthood

To encourage them to do the right things,

And live to live the life they want

Life as a child is not always easy

 

Sometimes I feel so tied up and insecure

I don’t really know what to do

Will my friends help me through my weary times?

Will they help me when I’m scared?

Life as a child is not always easy

 

But now I know not to worry

For I have my Mum

whom I know will help me

Through all those times or any difficult situations

Life as a child is not always easy

 

 

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