Faber & Faber

New and Collected Poems for Children: Carol Ann Duffy

Synopsis:

Carol Ann Duffy, the Poet Laureate, is one of our most read and best loved poets both in and out of the classroom. This stellar edition of her poems for children brings together all the work from her four award-winning collections and stirs in a generous helping of new poems to boot.

From her dazzling debut Meeting Midnight through to her newest, brightest verses, Carol Ann Duffy’s writing for younger readers has always bubbled with wit and humour, intelligence and affection, and introduced us to many strange and wonderful characters along the way. Beautifully illustrated by Alice Stevenson, this delightful and essential collection reminds us that poems this good can be both educational and enjoyable.

 

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Whee!

I held my head in both my hands
and flung it through the air.
Blown by the wind, it flew away,
streaming out my hair.

The world, from high perspectives, looked
duller than ditchwater.
I rose above all mundane things -
Halley's Comet's daughter.

Higher than the flightpath of dreams
my cranium sped on;
while, down below, the people shrieked
'She's crazy! Head's gone.'

It's easy. Just shrug your shoulders,
turn your mind to the sky;
then throw your head like a basket-ball.
Whee! Goodbye. Goodbye ...

© Carol Ann Duffy

 

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Dimples

When I'm scared the Monsters are thrilling me.
When I'm cold the North Wind is chilling me.
When I'm pretty some ribbons are frilling me.
When I'm fibbing my teacher is grilling me.
When I'm sad my salt tears are spilling free.
When I'm brave my courage is willing me.
When I fidget my Grandma is stilling me.
When I'm hungry my Mother is filling me.
When I'm spending the toy shop is billing me.
When I score the referee's nilling me.
When I'm ill the doctor is pilling me.
When it's dawn the sparrows are trilling me.
But when I laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh
and laugh MY DIMPLES ARE KILLING ME!

© Carol Ann Duffy

 

Tags:

Categorised as:

Poetry

Sub-categories:

Poetry Anthologies

Genres & Themes:

Fantasy; Folklore; Ghosts; Illustrations; School; Storytelling