Poem: 'My Funny Bone A-Laughing!'

A silly poem I wrote after my 2 year-old daughter hit her elbow and to comfort her, I told her about her funny bone, something she had never heard of before...

My nose, it is a-sniffing

My eyes, they are a-twitching

But the noise you hear around the room

Is my funny bone a-laughing!

My knees, they are a-knocking

My teeth, they are a-chatt’ring

But the hearty cry in soulful sound

Is my funny-bone a-laughing!

 

My feet, they are a-tapping

My hands, they are a-clapping

But the giggling joy you’re bound to note

Is my funny-bone a-laughing!

My toes, they are a-tingling

My heart, it is a-thumping

But of all the sounds the best of all

Is my funny-bone a-laughing!

A Quick Note!

Apologies for not getting things up here over the last month. I have been reading a lot and more frustratingly writing chapters for a book I had started a while back. I have actually found the effort of writing chapters more frustrating than poetry and picture book writing. With poems and picture books you see the whole as it emerges from the mire of your mind with more expediency but I must say that writing chapters for a more concentrated period of time has left me a bit deflated!!! Not what I expected and more experiences of writing block than I have experienced before. I am putting down the chapters for now and have bits of paper and notes blu-tacked to my wall in the laundry where I have a space to write. I think that I will stick to what I enjoy for now! My wife has noted the change in mood that accompanied my writing the kind of stuff that I have been doing over the last month and said that I didn't seem to be enjoying it as much - and for the record she was/is right! It didn't give me the enjoyment that other forms of writing have and do give to me...So back to the writing board..in the manner that I enjoy...short-stories, poems and children's picture books!

Thanks too for Amanda, Pulusea and 'Room 6' for joining the blog since I last posted, appreciate people dropping in every now and again. I will put up a silly little poem I wrote a while ago as my next post to get the ball (my mind!) and my fingers rolling again!

Many thanks again,

Timu

Reviews: Three NZ Picture Books

Here is a selection of three New Zealand picture books especially for my kiwi readers...

'Hill & Hole' by Kyle Mewburn and Vasanti Unka

This is a delightfully simple story which tells of two friends, Hill and Hole, who decide one day they would like to swap places and live like the other for a while. With the help of some other friends their wish comes true and they begin to see the world in a whole new way! Effectively illustrated with a surprising twist at the end of the story.

'The Moon and Farmer McPhee' by Margaret Mahy and David Elliot

This story tells of a grumpy farmer who wants his animals to be quiet at night..but the moon is up and they are dancing away and creating a great hullaballoo in its silvery light! In anger he whisks them away to the barn and orders them to go to sleep so that he can have a peaceful night's rest...however he is taken aback by the surprise that awaits him outside the barn doors. A beautifully illustrated picture book that children will want to have read to them time and time again.

'Alf Red's Broccoli Rocket' by Simon Clearwater and Andrew Dopheide

This picture book tells the lyrical story of Alf who decides to design himself a rocket out of old food and string. Showing off that 'kiwi ingenuity', his work is a true masterpiece. He hides his latest invention from prying eyes and tempted tummies only to be discovered by his brother Ted who decides in the middle of the night to give it a test flight to the moon. Awaking to find both his rocket and his brother are missing, Alf plans a rescue mission to the moon in the hope of saving Ted. The tale of the boys' adventure is told throughout the book in rhyme and children will love the illustrations and may even be dared to become inventors themselves one day.