The Pencilympics
The shortest scribble
The longest line
The daftest doodle
The neatest 9
The smallest stipple
The crossest hatch
The bluntest smudge
The sharpest scratch
The Pencilympics
Some say unfair
2B or not 2B
Who cares?
For each event
of scrawl or score
will always end up
in a draw
The longest line
The daftest doodle
The neatest 9
The smallest stipple
The crossest hatch
The bluntest smudge
The sharpest scratch
The Pencilympics
Some say unfair
2B or not 2B
Who cares?
For each event
of scrawl or score
will always end up
in a draw
This poem is copyright (©) Mark Bird 2026
About the Writer
Mark Bird
Mark Bird is a children’s author and teacher. He was born in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire and now lives in London. His debut picture book, ‘Halloween Date From Hell’ came out in October 2022 followed by ‘The Klangaroo’ in 2024. Mark has poems published in several anthologies including Ana Sampson’s ‘Heroes and Villains’, Gaby Morgan’s ‘Cosy Poems’, Brian Moses’ ‘The Best Ever Book of Funny Poems’, Kathryn Beevors’ ‘Peak Poetry’, Jonathan Humble’s ‘Sky Surfing’ and in Gill Education’s ‘Over The Moon’ series.
He also has poems featured in two 2025 anthologies from Macmillan:
‘Space - Royal Observatory Greenwich Poetry Book’, and ‘You’re Never Too Much - poems for every emotion’. Many more of Mark’s poems can be found on his website: www.Dreambeastpoems.com.
