Camels in Oman
It’s hard to love a camel
with its pouting grumpy face.
And camels always live
in an inconvenient place.
It’s hard to love a camel
with its fed-up shrieks of woe.
If it’s sick of people near it,
it is sure to let you know.
It’s hard to love a camel
when it eats out of the bin.
Standing silent in the darkness
as I throw my rubbish in.
But when you see them in the desert
in a stately quiet crew,
it’s much easier to love them
(though they really don't love you.)
with its pouting grumpy face.
And camels always live
in an inconvenient place.
It’s hard to love a camel
with its fed-up shrieks of woe.
If it’s sick of people near it,
it is sure to let you know.
It’s hard to love a camel
when it eats out of the bin.
Standing silent in the darkness
as I throw my rubbish in.
But when you see them in the desert
in a stately quiet crew,
it’s much easier to love them
(though they really don't love you.)
This poem is copyright (©) Gillian Spiller 2023
About the Writer
Gillian Spiller
Gillian Spiller is a Scottish poet and children’s author, who has spent many years living and teaching in S-E Asia, E Asia and the Middle East. She is the author of four picture books, The Blue Sock (2019), Star Sailor (2020), On The Shelf (2021) and A Shell for Cleo (2022) by Marshall Cavendish Ltd. (Asia). Her poetry for children is available on the British Council’s Learn English Kids website, as well as here on The Dirigible Balloon.
