School Trip
Listen to Jacqueline ...
Keep right away from the pelicans, dear,
They can swallow a duck in one bite.
Yes, I know that it’s stolen your lunch box, my sweet,
But I’d rather not put up a fight.
Don’t get too close to the llama, honey,
I really don’t think they like stroking,
Yes, I know that it looks like he’s smiling, my pet,
But the keeper said not to provoke him.
Stand further back from the peacock, darling,
No, you can’t help yourself to a feather.
Its beak and its claws are quite sharp, my love,
And it’s best that we all stick together.
I know that you’re fond of the penguins, sugar,
But you shouldn’t have climbed in their pool.
I’m glad that you’ve had a good time, my treasure,
But next year, we’ll just stay at school.
They can swallow a duck in one bite.
Yes, I know that it’s stolen your lunch box, my sweet,
But I’d rather not put up a fight.
Don’t get too close to the llama, honey,
I really don’t think they like stroking,
Yes, I know that it looks like he’s smiling, my pet,
But the keeper said not to provoke him.
Stand further back from the peacock, darling,
No, you can’t help yourself to a feather.
Its beak and its claws are quite sharp, my love,
And it’s best that we all stick together.
I know that you’re fond of the penguins, sugar,
But you shouldn’t have climbed in their pool.
I’m glad that you’ve had a good time, my treasure,
But next year, we’ll just stay at school.
This poem is copyright (©) Jacqueline Shirtliff 2024
About the Writer
Jacqueline Shirtliff
Jacqueline is a poet and primary school teacher on the Isle of Man. One of her favourite things is helping children to love poetry and reading and encouraging them to be writers themselves. She lives in a rose-covered cottage near the sea and enjoys gardening, crochet, and playing the tuba and harp, but not all at the same time! You can read some of her other poems in The Caterpillar, Tyger Tyger, Northern Gravy, The Toy, and Little Thoughts Press.
