Change
Leopards cannot change their spots,
Or so some people say,
But what’s inside can change a lot:
We all change every day.
Elephants can be graceful,
Lions can be meek,
Puppies aren’t always playful,
Mice do more than squeak.
Hamsters do get off the wheel,
Sloths don’t only nap,
Tortoises can move with zeal,
Crocs do more than snap,
Horses yay as well as neigh,
Cock-a-doodles don’t.
If you believe you can’t change
Well, it’s true, you won’t.
But reject expectation,
And shrug off labels too,
Change is the foundation
Of super, brilliant YOU!
Or so some people say,
But what’s inside can change a lot:
We all change every day.
Elephants can be graceful,
Lions can be meek,
Puppies aren’t always playful,
Mice do more than squeak.
Hamsters do get off the wheel,
Sloths don’t only nap,
Tortoises can move with zeal,
Crocs do more than snap,
Horses yay as well as neigh,
Cock-a-doodles don’t.
If you believe you can’t change
Well, it’s true, you won’t.
But reject expectation,
And shrug off labels too,
Change is the foundation
Of super, brilliant YOU!
This poem is copyright (©) Rhiannon Oliver 2024
About the Writer
Rhiannon Oliver
Rhiannon is an actress, poet, workshop facilitator and playgroup leader based in Cardiff. She started writing for children in 2021 and has been published in The Caterpillar, Tyger Tyger, The Toy, The Dirigible Balloon, Northern Gravy, Paperbound, Little Thoughts Press, Parakeet, Buzgaga, and Launchpad (Australia). She has publications forthcoming in multiple anthologies. She has also written and created performance videos for The Big Welsh Rhyme Time (Book Trust Cymru) and her poetry has appeared on TV (Only Boys Aloud Christmas Concert, S4C). She is part of Literature Wales' Representing Wales 2023 scheme and is currently developing her first collection for children which explores Mental Health and Well-being.
