illustrations copyright derek rencher

A VEGETARIAN SPIDER

A vegetarian spider crossed his eight small feet,
waiting for a turnip he could catch and eat,
sitting on his web slowly getting thinner,
he hadn't dined for weeks and needed a hot dinner.

Instead of a tasty cauliflower landing from on high,
a fly flew down, nearly poking out one eye,
but it wouldn't end in a messy sticky state,
this spider thought any bug, was his closest mate.

The fly buzzed off as the spider searched the sky,
no one told him that broccoli can't fly,
so impatiently, he still waited to be fed,
hoping a fat sprout would drop down from overhead.

A

An Aardvark in an overcoat,
went hunting after dark.
With an umbrella and a sieve
he searched for supper
in the park.

He rummaged in the grass for ants
with his sticky nose,
plastic bags tied to his feet,
so ants couldn't
bite his toes.

THE MIRROR'S IMAGE

Reflected in the glass is a person just like you,
doing all the things
your mischief likes to do.

Playing games you invent, laying on your bed,
On reflection what else could she go and do instead?

Always in the same clothes staring as you stare,
pointing at each other,
though she isn't really there.

If you look closely you will see you are the same,
that twin trapped in your mirror who doesn't have a name.

A DAY OUT

Once upon a time there was a little girl in red,
skipping through the woods to visit Granny, sick in bed.
Halfway there a hungry wolf invited her for tea,
"Oh yes", she said, "That would be nice,
I do have an hour free".

They ate some cake and chatted, watched the daylight end.
He couldn't eat her now, she'd become his dearest friend.
She said,
"Excuse me sir, I didn't know it was this late,
my parents always panic,
if I stay out after eight"

They kissed goodnight,
the wolf didn't bite
and went off to chase some sheep.
And Granny, you wonder?
Well,
she sat alone 'till she finally fell asleep.

THE GUILTY DOG

Plants dug from pots,
books laying where they fall,
grimy paw prints smeared the newly painted wall,
a pair of soggy slippers balanced on a stair.
The table cloth ripped to bits
and chewed
beyond repair.

Dragged across the floor,
his masters favourite clothes,
food stolen from the kitchen spread around his nose.
One guilty dog worried in the middle of this mess,
should he try to blame the cat,
wag his tail,
or just confess?

I can't recall what I know,
or where I was an hour ago.
One day I will forget my name,
then will I still be the same
person I was before
and like me even more?

 

GEORGE THE HEADLESS GHOST

George the headless ghost
couldn't hear or scream,
he never knew where his body was,
or where his head had been.

Getting lost and loosing things,
tripping over chairs,
walking into walls and windows,
falling down the stairs.