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