Everybody has an inner child in them. That’s because all of us are far younger in our minds and imaginations than we may be in physical terms.

There is no doubt that by using our imagination we can go back to those youthful feelings, attitudes and experiences. We can see life through the eyes of a child.

This volume of poetry is a distilled essence of all these things.

We have asked a group of poets to evoke that childhood feeling and these poems are the result of that request.

There is no doubt that through our writing we can take that step back in time to those more innocent days. Childhood is the truly magical time in the story of human development. It's a time of dreams, hopes, innocence, ambition and belief in a simpler, perhaps better world.

So I hope that in reading these poems you can capture something which touches your heart and inspires you to remember and embrace the golden days of your youth.

Lynda Brennan, Editor

CHRISTMAS TIME

’Tis Christmas time, ’tis Christmas time,
Carols are sung as bells do chime.
As they gather round the Christmas tree,
The joy of Christmas is there to see.
’Tis Christmas time, ’tis Christmas time,
Children rehearse and recite their lines.
So amusing in their ways,
Performing in their nativity plays.
’Tis Christmas time, ’tis Christmas time,
Santa brings gifts in a grand style.
See youngsters’ faces with a glow,
So excited when he appears on show.
’Tis Christmas time, ’tis Christmas time,
Presents unwrapped, and then the wine.
Children shout and full of glee,
Look, what Santa has brought for me.
’Tis Christmas time, ’tis Christmas time,
Children sing and love to mime.
A great party atmosphere,
Everyone merry and full of cheer.

Doreen Barella

THROUGH THE EYES OF A CHILD

The wailing sound above the town
like someone deep in pain.
The enemy is up above
an air raid once again.
When lying in your bunk
in shelters damp and cold
with spiders climbing up the walls
it’s frightening, for a ten year old.
The streets are now empty, bleak and grey,
because the children have all been sent away.
No more playing in the street
or games to enjoy with each other.
We will be older when we meet,
memories of those years gone by,
stored within ourselves.
Now forget those years, to try
to tell the children in years to come.
Love each other, love everyone.
No more wars, no more pain.
Just peace on earth, once again.

Iris Tennent

LITTLE PUZZLES

What has an ear but cannot hear?
What has an eye but cannot see?
What has a head, four feet as well?
But can’t think or run like you and me?

A stalk of corn has got an ear
A needle has an eye to hold a thread
The next you sleep on every night
Of course you guessed, a bed, that’s right

What makes a friend so pleased to see you?
What makes you too exited to wait?
What turns a wet day into sunshine?
What makes trouble not so great?

A happy face makes your friend feel welcome
A birthday treat makes it hard to wait
A rainbow colours the dreariest day
A smile is a curve that makes things straight

Maureen Quirey

THE FAIRY DANCE

Come here till I tell you
Of fairies in the twilight,
Flitting through the trees to midnight.
Dancing through the leaves to dawnlight
To set this old world to right,
Before the dawning of the day.

Come here till I tell you,
How elves leave their toadstools
To dance through the rock pools,
Skating over darkening whirlpools
That tease the trout in their cold dark fish pools
Before the dawning of the day.

Come here till I tell you,
How pixies in pixie hoods
Come from deep dark woods.
Join fairy folk, and elfin hoards
All dance together, dance away.
Dance away our darksome moods
Dancing back to us the good,
Before the dawning of the day.

Margaret Duguid

THE TEDDIES’ TEA PARTIES

Anna and Liz set up tea on the lawn.
Teddies were waiting, they’d been there since dawn.
There were biscuits and cakes and cups of pop too.
The sun was shining, the sky was blue
But little girls grow up and soon they leave school.
Leaving teddies behind, because this is the rule.

A year or two on Poll and Jed from next door,
Set out the teddies and cups on the floor.
Soon Ashley and Woosey, called by (their mates),
So they buttered some crackers and put them on plates.
With the passing years they too went away,
But the sad looking teddies, they had to stay.

Years later, Charlotte came to stay,
Inviting the teddies in the kitchen to play.
Out came the tea set, the cups and the plates,
So pleased were the teddies to share all the cakes.
Charlotte thinks she’s made up a new game,
But teddies all know it will end just the same.

Frankie Shepherd

MY NAME IS SAMMY

My name is Sammy and I live by the sea
In a house with a red roof and a conservatory.
My mum feeds me well and cuddles me
And hates it when kids call me Ginger or Goofy.
My dad loves to play football with me
And it’s great because he doesn’t spit,
Like some I see on TV.
I mustn’t be rude, steal, lie or curse
For if I do, my pocket money stays in mum’s purse.
Once I was disgusting for I used bad words and broke wind,
I copied Dirty Dan who used to wee up the wall and grin.
But sadly he’s not laughing now,
For he’s in prison you see,
But I’ll always like and remember him.
I’m growing up fast and mum and dad are proud of me.
One day I’ll buy them
A new house, car and TV
For they will always be
The best mum and dad in the world to me.

Joan Kernick

TOPSY THE RABBIT

Topsy the rabbit sits in her hutch
She doesn’t ask for very much.
She is her owner’s pride and joy,
His name is Bobby and he is a nice little boy.
Every day on the stroke of nine
She is fed some lettuce and dandelion.
Her brothers and sisters have long gone away
To many homes, I’m sad to say.
But Topsy is happy in her garden, it’s true
Amongst all the flowers of a delicate hue.
She has her run up the path every day
And listens to the birds sing as she goes on her way.
If you have a pet, give them all your love
For they are a gift from heaven above.

Enid Skelton

UNDER THE STAIR

I tip-toe in silence, up to my bed
And I hide with the duvet right over my head.
My teddy sits smiling, he seems unaware
That there’s something quite nasty lives under the stair.
At night I hear creaking and shuffling below
It’s trying to get settled and comfy, I know.
It sniffs and it listens and knows I am there
And one day will pounce from under the stair.
Oh, beware of the monster, beware of its bite
Beware of its claws, which it sharpens at night.
Never be careless, if it gets you alone
It will eat all your good bits and leave just the bone.
If I didn’t believe in it, off it would go
It would shuffle off, snuffle off, come nevermore.
I pass by and whisper, You’re not really there
But it sniggers, Then why not look under the stair?

Frank Ryding

UNCLE JAMAL BOND

Demi and Ellie were waiting at the airport
Waiting anxiously for their uncle to return
To return from his trip to Dubui
Where they were going to greet him with a hug
A special hug for their special uncle
Demi and Ellie who are three years of age
Demi and Ellie were with her mother
And were also accompanied by Demi’s mother
On seeing their uncle, the duo rushed up the steps
To give him a sweet hug
The pair couldn’t hear their mothers
Calling to Ellie and Demi, Wait till he’s down
Demi and Ellie’s mother tried to stop them
Demi and Ellie’s shrieks of delight
On seeing their uncle again could be heard for miles
The exited din they were making was so loud
You couldn’t hear yourself speak it was that loud
Demi and Ellie were that exited they fell down
Demi and Ellie nearly knocked someone flying over

Michael Eagle

I dedicate this poem to the lovely, wonderful staff of Fontaná’s Cafe and also to Princess Demi and Princess Ellie.

MANTLE OF DUSK

Quiet the spirit
Rend not the peace with grinding engines
so we can slip between night light
branches of day, tall bark, high
above our watching heads
roots arched between spent needles
fallen on uneven ground, the plot of rain
upon the water’s face, moving between the grains
across the lightened beach.
Moon shine bright upon the talk and weave
of water over stone.
When woosh, the shriek of feathers
holing air, shadow become flesh and bone
bird beat out across the water.
Cloud come light across the hills, dark lines
ring roof and carapace, shell of the night
In the full wave of dusk, ripple of sky
mist sheer upon the water
Loch shadows rise and something dormant
stirs beneath the skin.

Pat Mackenzie

BEING A KID

As a kid I remember telling mum, I don’t want to grow up,
As she was drinking, coffee from her cup.
She asked me Why?, as she finished her last bite.
Looking up at her I simply replied, because I’m afraid of heights.

I remember playing Monopoly,
what a cool game.
Buying my hotels, putting everyone to shame.
Sister buys one of my streets,
how could she dare?
I yell, I’m trying to be ruthless and you’re not being fair.

Playing doubles on the computer, killing the bad guy.
My team-mate sister hits me lowering my life,
I give her the evil eye.
I team up with the enemy,
now it’s war.
Killed off her character, to settle the score.

Her character is lying, dead on the ground.
She hits her control pad but her guy doesn’t make a sound.
She yells at me and tells me to grow up
As I’m taking a sip from my Mickey Mouse cup.

Michèle Wood

© Terry Thornton - 2006-2008 United Press Ltd