Blast Off – Poetry Roundabout

A Rainbow of Poems – I Wish, by Carole Bromley

Posted on April 18, 2020April 18, 2020 by Liz Brownlee

In 2013, we toured all the 80 Gromit statues in Bristol (and one in London, Paddington) to raise some money for Medical Detection Dogs, who trained Lola. This beautiful golden Gromit was at St Nicholas Market. Gold and Silver are at the end of the rainbow, not in the sky, but in the ground… there is more gold and silver in Carole Bromley‘s poem, below – thank you, Carole!

I Wish

I wish I could live in the dolls’ house

and sit on a velvet chair and sip

from a silver goblet

I could sleep under that patchwork

grandma made with a cotton wool pillow

and keep my socks on all night

I’d loll against the kitchen sink

like the silly pipe-cleaner doll

washing the one gold plate

Sometimes I’d take a bath in the pink tub

and gaze up at the bare bulb

until it grew late

then I’d take down one of the paper books

from the shelf and kick off my shoes

and contemplate

If I felt like it, I’d go out of the tidy front door

carrying the tiny peg basket

and gather china fruit

I’d share it out with the wooden dog

and the three-legged cat

and warm myself at the grate.

If I could shrink and not grow up

I’d live my life in the room of gold chairs

behind the five-barred gate.

© Carole Bromley

Joke:

What’s black and white and red all over?

¡ɹǝdɐdsʍǝu ɐ

A to Z Blog Challenge 2018

B is for Children’s Poet Carole Bromley, #AtoZChallenge #ZtoA

Posted on April 28, 2018April 24, 2018 by Liz Brownlee

Carole Bromley

Carole Bromley lives in York where she has taught in schools, a Sixth Form College and at York University. She now tutors for the Arvon Foundation, the Poetry Society and the Poetry School. She was shortlisted for Manchester Writing for Children Award, and performed at CLiPPA Awards 2016. Her poetry collection for children, Blast Off! illustrated by Cathy Benson, is available here. Carole is available for workshops and readings in schools and at festivals.

Here is her poem!

Goldilocks

I’d listened at the door; they were always there,

the daddy with the voice and the enormous chair,

the mummy with the pinny, stirring the vat;

banging his spoon, their spoilt wee brat.

The chance came soon; they were humouring

the kid, swinging him hand to hand,

There there, baby bear let’s leave our bowls,

walk in the forest till the porridge cools.

All the more for me; I walked in from the yard

climbed onto daddy’s chair – far too hard.

You know the score – hard, soft, right

hot, cold, fine; big, small, mine.

Point was I had the whole place to myself,

put telly on, took a bath, rearranged a shelf.

Then it was Who’s been sitting in our chairs,

helping themselves? Beds are for bears

and this one’s bust. Yeah, yeah, fair cop.

But they chased after me and didn’t stop

till jumping out the window was the only way;

and there’s me thinking they’d ask me to stay.

But I’ll be back, you mark my words;

bears living in houses! It’s just absurd;

bears eating porridge, bears wearing frocks –

next time they’re out I’m changing the locks.

Click on the title of the post if you are on the home page to be taken to the post’s page where you will be able to comment! Thank you!

You can hear more about children’s poets and poetry, if you follow The Children’s Poetry Summit, @kidspoetsummit on Twitter

Poetry Book Parade

Blast Off!

Posted on September 7, 2017 by Liz Brownlee

From a new imprint of Smith/Doorstop for children’s poetry, Small Donkey, Blast off is by newcomer Carole Bromley.

It is illustrated by the detailed and charming ink drawings of Cathy Benson, who illustrated most of the children’s poetry published by the late Gerard Benson.

There’s a poem for every mood in this book – warm, funny, exploring many of the concerns pertaining to primary children, it feels like a hug.

Suitable for younger readers round the fire with mum and dad or for older primary readers on their own.

Here’s poem from the mix to judge for yourselves!

DIY Zoo Poem

I went to the zoo and looked in a cage,

Beware of these tigers. They get in a —-

I went to the zoo and looked in the pool.

Not a fish in sight, I felt such a —-

I went to visit the elephant house.

nothing in there, just a little grey —–

I followed a sign This way to the apes.

not a monkey around to eat my ——

I nagged and nagged to see a giraffe

but my father said You’re having a —–

they’re all fast asleep like the chimpanzees

and the sloths and koalas up in the —–

and the Emperor Penguins in their box

but the owls and the bats and the arctic —

are all wide awake cos they think it’s night,

so whatever you do, don’t switch on the —–