rhyming poem about the homework

• Children's Poems About Homework: Embracing Learning with Rhyme

Homework can often be seen as a chore by children, but what if we could make it more enjoyable and engaging? Poetry has the power to transform mundane tasks into something fun and exciting. In this article, we will explore some delightful children's poems about homework that can inspire young minds to embrace their academic journey with a smile.

1. "The Homework Monster" by Lily Smith

2. "ode to the pencil" by max johnson, 3. "the homework dance" by emily thompson.

The Homework Monster is a whimsical poem that brings to life the struggle many children face when tackling their assignments. Through a playful narrative, Lily Smith captures the frustration and creativity required to conquer the homework beast. Here's an excerpt:

The Homework Monster crept up my bed, With papers and textbooks, filling my head. It growled and it grumbled, challenging me, But I'll slay this creature, just wait and see!

The poem encourages children to view homework as a challenge to overcome, fostering a positive attitude towards their academic responsibilities.

In Ode to the Pencil , Max Johnson celebrates the humble pencil as a tool for homework success. This delightful poem highlights the significance of this small writing instrument that holds the power to transform thoughts into words. Here's a snippet:

Oh, pencil dear, you're always near, Guiding my hand with words so clear. You help me solve equations and spell with grace, With each stroke of lead, a smile I embrace!

By personifying the pencil and expressing gratitude for its role in completing homework, Max Johnson encourages children to appreciate the tools that assist them in their learning journey.

Emily Thompson's The Homework Dance infuses rhythm and movement into the task of completing assignments. This energetic poem encourages children to incorporate physical activity while working on their homework. Here's an excerpt:

Jump to the left, do a twirl and a sway, Tap your feet, keep the boredom at bay. Dance with your pencil, let your mind roam, With each step and groove, homework becomes home!

By transforming homework into a dance, this poem invites children to find joy and creativity in their academic endeavors.

Children's poems about homework have the power to transform a mundane task into an exciting adventure. Through imaginative storytelling, playful personification, and rhythmic expressions, these poems help children develop a positive attitude towards their academic responsibilities. Whether it's slaying the homework monster, celebrating the pencil, or dancing through assignments, these poems remind children that learning can be a delightful journey. So, let's inspire the young minds with the magic of poetry and make homework a joyful experience!

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Homework Poems

Homework poems from famous poets and best beautiful poems to feel good. Best homework poems ever written. Read all poems about homework.

BEST POEMS ABOUT HOMEWORK

Chaos ruled OK in the classroom as bravely the teacher walked in the nooligans ignored him his voice was lost in the din ...

School, School, School, A school is not so cool We're here 5 days a week 8 hours a day. ...

Homage to Kenneth Koch If I were doing my Laundry I'd wash my dirty Iran ...

My pants could maybe fall down when I dive off the diving board. My nose could maybe keep growing and never quit. Miss Brearly could ask me to spell words like stomach and special. (Stumick and speshul?) ...

Homework! Oh, Homework! I hate you! You stink! I wish I could wash you away in the sink, if only a bomb ...

For my poems, my friend Valsa George has a hunger. She’s over fifty, but, compared to me, she is younger. She suggested I write about ‘the advantages of being old’. It’s a challenge, but, Valsa, on this idea you have sold...... ...

A seated statue of himself he seems. A bronze slowness becomes him. Patently The page he contemplates he doesn't see. ...

I started on my homework but my pen ran out of ink. My hamster ate my homework. My computer's on the blink. ...

They never teach you this at school; they'll try to teach you reading, writing, 'rithmetic in their own instructed ways; ...

Ricky was 'L' but he's home with the flu, Lizzie, our 'O,' had some homework to do, Mitchell, 'E' prob'ly got lost on the way, ...

You "adults", you exasperate me with your evasions and delays. You're going to have to change some of the ways that you behave. ...

is what we called her. The story was that her father had thrown Drano at her which was probably true, given the way she slouched through fifth grade, afraid of the world, recess ...

The Homework Machine, Oh, the Homework Machine, Most perfect contraption that's ever been seen. ...

Now I was hangin' round Nashville writin' songs and playin' 'em for all of the stars Watchin' 'em laugh and hand 'em back livin' on hope and ...

Why do I hate my homework? It is a pest like a brother Or a sister of another It is like a very boring book ...

I was then a young boy of ten. Was doing homework, before the afternoon game. The door was closed but the window open, When I nearly finished, came a surprise, sudden. ...

Ever since I set foot in school for my new academic year It looks like luck has abandoned me My bus came late to pick me up for school So guess who is punished, me! ...

You know that if there was one thing, That you could take from school, It wouldn't be art or math or history, It would be work. ...

It is the fortune of poeple that the shadows of our futures do not lie heavy ...

I am looking for a past I can rely on in order to look to death with equanimity. ...

NEW POEMS ABOUT HOMEWORK

When I was little, my stepfather and I would be outside, coloring the driveway with chalk or throwing a frisbee and he'd stop and say, "I'm gonna go stir your mama up." He'd go in the house, coming out minutes later with my mom hot on his heels, waving her arms and haranguing his retreating back. She couldn't see the big grin on his face as he approached me, "It's good for her heart, " he'd say, chuckling and resuming whatever we were doing, "We've got to keep her on her toes." He's a master of dolorous mischief. ...

We will never use mobile phone and other screen While in car, family, meal, and homework routine. ...

Fields of wild flowers in summer bloom, turquoise skies and trees of oak and beech which I fought the imagined enemy's from, I was Geronimo fighting off the 7th calvary, flying off arrows in all directions. That afternoon I was a commando in my dugout hole with a midden bin lid to hide in winning World War 2 with my pals George and James, when I got home I had my supper and a bath and I was Michael again with homework to do for Monday morning. Michael Cochrane © ...

Equations, Simultaneous! ! ...

E is for effort Required at school Hardly accepted But gthe scirge of the fool ...

........ Mrs. Blangleberger, ma'am, sir. ...

Hey! Are you waiting forthe holidays If yes, then don't worry as they are very near Here comes are new session, here comes May But, what is this fear which drives you away ...

Miss can miss her class, But she does not miss her home-work. ...

Moby Dick, geometry, physics. Study every subject everyday. Homework is an indicator of future success. Success is not necessarily happiness but it helps. ...

Writing a poem is not about bringing some words together to create some charming sentences. It's so much deeper than that. Writing poetry is a bridge that allows people to express their feelings and make others live every single word they read. Poetry is to educate people, to lead them away from hate to love, from violence to mercy and pity. Writing poetry is to help this community better understand life and live it more passionately. PoemHunter.com contains an enormous number of famous poems from all over the world, by both classical and modern poets. You can read as many as you want, and also submit your own poems to share your writings with all our poets, members, and visitors.

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30 Poems About School

Written by Dan

Last updated February 14, 2024

Are you looking for great examples of poems about school to use in your classroom? Well, you’re in luck! In this article, we’ll feature poems we wrote using different types of poetry forms, focusing on school.

With these poems, any class lesson – discussing imagery or figurative language – can become an even more engaging and educational experience.

We hope these crafty works will help you and your students understand the importance of poetic expression in our lives. So, let’s jump into the fascinating world of poetry and dive head first into our list of example poems about school!

Related : For more, check out our article on  Poems About Starting First Grade  here.

Table of Contents

Five Example Free Verse Poems About School

The classroom.

The classroom waits in silent suspense

Desks and chairs, arranged in neat sense

The blackboard lines the back wall

A precious place, to expand and recall

The papers rustle, the pens tap

Eager minds, ready to unwrap

Knowledge that the books contain

Words that flow, like the rain

The lessons learned and the insights gained

A classroom’s promise, forever maintained

The bond with knowledge, forever entwined

A journey with learning, forever refined

The Playground

The playground teems with laughter and play

Children’s joy, not to be kept at bay

The see-saws squeak, as they rise and fall

As swings creak, kids reach for the ball

The hopscotch grid, pebbles and chalk

The tag and hide-and-seek game, no talk

The slides and climbers, the monkey bars

Fun and frolic, grace the college stars

The varied sounds, so wild and free

A playground’s spirit, for all to see

The young and old, untethered and gay

At the playground, joyful memories stay

The Library

The hush of the library, deep and profound

A magical place, where knowledge is found

The shelves of books, in orderly rows

Treasures of wisdom, the soul’s repose

Books that tell, stories of yore

Facts and knowledge, in peaceful rapport

The hushed whispers, the turning of pages

The library’s promise, through all the ages

The thirst for knowledge, forever alive

In the library’s halls, it forever thrives

The stories told and dream’s that took flight

A library’s vision, forever in sight

The Science Lab

In the science lab, the world comes to life

Experiments galore, knowledge conquers strife

The microscopes, lenses so fine

That reveal a world, rarely seen by design

The test tubes, the beakers and the Bunsen burner

Science’s sizzle, in the moments of yearning

The hypotheses developed and tested

The knowledge gained and experiments bested

The science of the world, forever inside

In the science lab, forever at stride

The intellect, the wonder, the curiosity

In the science lab, forever there shall be

The Cafeteria

In the cafeteria, kids take a break

Their jovial sounds, make no mistake

The chatter, it echoes off the wall

As they snack and take a call

The smells of food, so varied too

From pizza to burgers, to stews that ensue

The lunch lines, they snake and turn

As kids choose, and dinners they earn

The cafeteria, a place of thriving life

Where young minds, with knowledge they strive

The break of day, time for renewal

In the cafeteria, a moment so casual

Related : For more, check out our article on  Poems About Teachers  here.

Five Acrostic Poems About School

1. s.c.h.o.o.l.

Sitting in a classroom, learning every day,

Curiosity sparked, in every single way.

Hours of reading, writing, and arithmetic,

Opportunities to grow, to find your unique shtick.

Opening minds to new ideas,

Learning about the world, conquering fears.

By Dan Higgins 2024

2. L.E.A.R.N

Life’s journey begins with a single step,

Education is the key, a promise kept.

Always seeking knowledge, both old and new,

Reading, writing, discovering what’s true.

Never stop learning, keep your mind keen.

3. E.D.U.C.A.T.I.O.N

Everyday brings a new opportunity to learn,

Delving into subjects at every turn.

Understanding complex ideas with ease,

Cultivating a mind that aims to please.

Acquiring skills to last a lifetime,

Teaching us to solve problems, to climb.

Inspiring growth and personal development,

Opening doors, offering enriching content.

Nurturing a love for learning, an enduring passion.

4. K.N.O.W.L.E.D.G.E

Knowledge is an invaluable treasure,

Never ending, it’s a pleasure.

Opening books, exploring new realms,

With every page, it overwhelms.

Learning new things, expanding your mind,

Everyday, new wonders you’ll find.

Discovering truths, solving mysteries,

Growing, evolving through histories.

Education, the key to unlock potential.

5. T.E.A.C.H.E.R

To guide us on our learning journey,

Encouraging us when we’re feeling unworthy.

Always there with a reassuring smile,

Creating an environment that’s worthwhile.

Helping us understand, helping us grow,

Educating us on what we need to know.

Respected and cherished, teachers we admire.

Related : For more, check out our article on  Poems About The Classroom  here.

Five Examples Of Haikus About School

Knowledge gained.

In the classroom, learning

Knowledge is acquired, in time

Best asset of life

Friendships formed

Friends are made in school

Day after day, together

Growing and learning

Inspiring teacher

The teacher so wise

Teaching knowledge for a lifetime

Inspiring to us all

The morning bell

Morning bells chime loud

Awakening children with sound

Learning begins anew

Recess time

Playground filled with joy

Living the precious moments

Playing and having fun

Related : For more, check out our article on  Poems About High School  here.

Five Sonnet Poems About School

1. the halls of learning.

In these halls where wisdom’s seeds are sown,

Books and pens, our tools in this grand quest.

Knowledge as the crop that we have grown,

In our school where minds are put to test.

Through the window, the sun casts its light,

On the desks where young scholars reside.

With each lesson, ignorance takes flight,

In our hearts, newfound understanding abides.

Teachers, like lighthouses guiding ships,

Illuminate the path to truth and facts.

From their wisdom, precious knowledge drips,

In this school where intellect is taxed.

So let us cherish these days, bright and bold,

For in these classrooms, future stories unfold.

2. The Sound of Learning

The bell tolls, signaling the day’s start,

Echoing through corridors and rooms.

Each chime ignites a young, eager heart,

In this school, where intellect blooms.

Voices rise in harmonious decree,

Reciting lessons learned from books.

In every word, a promise to be free,

From ignorance’s tenacious hooks.

The chalk’s dance on the blackboard sings,

A symphony of knowledge and thought.

To our ears, its melody brings,

Wisdom that cannot be bought.

So listen close to the sound, my friend,

In this school, where minds ascend.

3. The Canvas of Knowledge

Our school stands as a canvas, pristine,

For us to paint with hues of intellect.

Each stroke a testament to the unseen,

Worlds that our minds introspect.

The geometry of ideas forms shapes,

In the gallery of our collective mind.

With every lesson, the canvas takes,

A new form, leaving ignorance behind.

Through the corridors of this grand exhibit,

We wander, admiring each masterpiece.

In awe of the wisdom and the spirit,

Of this school, where learning never ceases.

So let us paint with vibrant strokes bold,

On this canvas, where knowledge unfolds.

4. The Garden of Intellect

In this garden, where ideas bloom,

Our school stands as a beacon of light.

Each classroom, a fertile womb,

Nurturing seeds of insight.

Teachers toil like diligent gardeners,

Planting seeds in the soil of our minds.

With each lesson, they become pardoners,

Freeing us from ignorance’s binds.

From the fertile ground of this sacred place,

Grow trees of knowledge, tall and grand.

In this school, we embrace,

The fruits of learning, close at hand.

So let us tend to this garden with care,

For in its soil, wisdom is bare.

5. The Symphony of Wisdom

Our school resonates with a symphony,

Of pens scribbling and pages turning.

Each note a testament to the epiphany,

That comes from ceaseless yearning.

In every classroom, a different tune,

Math, science, art, and history.

Under the conductor’s baton, the moon,

And stars reveal their mystery.

Through the halls, the melody flows,

A song of knowledge, sweet and clear.

In this school, the symphony grows,

Louder with each passing year.

So let us listen to the music play,

In this school, where wisdom holds sway.

Related : For more, check out our article on  Poems About Middle School  here.

Five Ode Poems About School

1. ode to the halls of knowledge.

In the labyrinth of learning, I wander,

Guided by the wisdom of ages past.

Bounded by walls of academia, I ponder,

Absorbing knowledge vast.

Echoes of lessons, in silence and laughter,

Dance through corridors, old and new.

In every corner, dreams we chase after,

In classrooms where ideas grew.

By Dan Higgins, 2024

2. Ode to the Teachers

Oh, noble guardians of intellect,

Who sow seeds of wisdom with respect.

In minds fertile with curiosity,

You cultivate a world of possibility.

With patience, you mold us, day by day,

Guiding us along our way.

In your hands, we learn to fly,

On wings of knowledge, we touch the sky.

3. Ode to the Library

A sanctuary of silence in the bustling school,

A refuge for the dreamer, the thinker, the fool.

Rows upon rows of knowledge bound,

In the library, lost and found.

A world of wisdom at our fingertips,

Journeys embarked on literary ships.

In the hush, a universe unfurls,

In the heart of the school, the library whirls.

4. Ode to the Playground

A haven of joy amidst scholarly pursuits,

Where laughter rings and friendship roots.

Slides and swings in vibrant array,

The playground sings in the light of day.

Chasing dreams under the open sky,

Learning lessons that books can’t supply.

In the dance of freedom, we learn to play,

In the playground, where children hold sway.

5. Ode to the School Bell

A herald of beginnings and ends,

The school bell rings, a message it sends.

Marking the rhythm of our days,

In its chime, a symphony plays.

A call to learn, to strive, to rest,

The school bell knows us best.

In its toll, we hear the call,

Of the school that nurtures us all.

Five Example Limericks About School

The principal.

There once was a principal of a school,

Whose wisdom was highly thought, that’s not cruel,

With heart and sense of humor so grand,

All students loved him in the land,

And in him, parents found a real jewel.

The Math Class

In math, the numbers are king,

Finding the solution is to cling,

From addition to multiplication,

Teachers demand full participation,

Until the concept, students understand and bring.

The Field Trip

To the field trip, the kids went for an adventure,

They went to a museum with such a grand gesture,

They saw exhibits, galleries, and science labs,

To say it’s fun is true, there’s no need to blab,

Oh, the memories they’ll cherish and forever nurture.

The Homework

Homework, homework, oh such a bore,

A pile of work that never seems to have a core,

But to get better grades and learning skills,

It takes practice, persistence and strong wills,

In the end, commitment and effort open the door.

The Final Exams

Final exams, a stressed-filled event,

Students with their notes and books, spent,

They cram and study, many all-nighters,

As deadlines pass, they hope and pray for writers,

But in the end, they prevail with great content.

Five Villanelle Poems About School

1. the school bell rings.

The school bell rings, it’s time to start,

Through corridors, we quickly dart.

Each classroom is a world apart.

The teacher’s voice, a work of art,

Explains the science, imparts the heart.

The school bell rings, it’s time to start.

In history, we play our part,

In English, we learn to outsmart.

Math equations, like a chart,

Are puzzles that set us apart.

In gym, we run and jump and dart,

Team spirit, we take to heart.

School’s a journey, not just a cart,

A place to grow, from which we depart.

2. The Lessons Learned

In school we learn, we live, we yearn,

Knowledge gained at every turn,

The lessons learned, for which we yearn.

With each mistake, we discern,

With every triumph, we earn,

In school we learn, we live, we yearn.

From textbooks, wisdom we churn,

From teachers, respect we earn,

In the playground, friendships burn,

In the classroom, ideas return,

School days pass, like sand in an urn,

Yet memories remain, bright and stern,

The lessons learned, for which we yearn,

3. A World Within Walls

A world within walls, a universe in halls,

Where knowledge calls, and inspiration falls.

A school is more than its walls.

Within its confines, ambition installs,

Potential uncovers, talent enthralls.

A world within walls, a universe in halls.

In the library, wisdom sprawls,

In the lab, discovery befalls.

Each lesson, a journey that enthralls,

Each day, a story that recalls.

As the sunset on the schoolyard befalls,

We take with us what the day installs.

A school is more than its walls,

4. The Echoes of Learning

The echoes of learning, the whispers of the mind,

In school, we seek, and so we find.

The echoes of learning, never confined.

Classrooms of dreams, where thoughts are designed,

Where knowledge is sown, and futures are signed.

The echoes of learning, the whispers of the mind.

With every question, we unwind,

With every answer, we’re intertwined.

Through the halls of thought, we wind,

Leaving ignorance behind.

As we depart, we’re reminded and inclined,

To carry forth what we’ve combined.

The echoes of learning, never confined,

5. The Symphony of School

The symphony of school, a melody so grand,

A harmony of minds, a chorus unplanned.

The symphony of school, a score so grand.

In each note, a lesson planned,

In each rest, an understanding hand.

The symphony of school, a melody so grand.

From the first bell, to the last band,

The rhythm of learning, a tune so grand.

The crescendo of success, the decrescendo of reprimand,

The dynamics of life, in a school band.

As we leave, the final stand,

We carry the music, across the land.

The symphony of school, a score so grand,

Five Elegy Poems About School

1. elegy for childhood innocence.

Oh, the schoolyard, once a realm of joy,

Now silent, its laughter and chatter no more.

Gone are the days of girl and boy,

Playing, learning, exploring galore.

Chalkboards wiped clean, desks empty and bare,

Echoes of lessons, of knowledge shared.

Now only memories linger there,

Of curious minds that once cared.

2. Ode to the Forgotten Textbook

In the heart of the school, a textbook lay,

Filled with wisdom of another day.

Its pages yellowed, its spine worn thin,

A testament to the wisdom within.

Once held dear, now forgotten,

In a world that’s forever begotten.

A silent tribute to those who strive,

To keep the thirst for learning alive.

3. Lament for Lost Recess

The bell rings out, but no children heed,

No rush of feet, no playful deed.

The swings stand still, the slide untouched,

Recess, oh recess, you are missed so much.

Where once was laughter, silence reigns,

An emptiness that brings such pains.

A playground vacant, devoid of cheer,

A poignant reminder of a time so dear.

4. Sonnet for the Silent Classroom

Once filled with voices, eager and bright,

Now stands the classroom, devoid of light.

Desks arranged in orderly rows,

Silent witness to the knowledge it bestows.

No teacher stands at the head of class,

No student waits for the time to pass.

A hush has fallen, deep and profound,

In the place where learning was once found.

5. Eulogy for the School Bell

The bell tolls no more, its call unheard,

Once a herald, now a wordless bird.

Its song once stirred the heart of school,

Now it rests, a silent tool.

Mourn, oh mourn, for the bell’s sweet chime,

A melody lost to the march of time.

Its silence rings out, loud and clear,

An elegy for an era we hold dear.

Five Rhyming Poems About School

1. the joy of learning.

In every corner, a story unfolds,

A world of knowledge that school holds.

Books and lessons, wisdom’s way,

Brightening minds, keeping ignorance at bay.

2. The School Bell Rings

A day of learning, a work of art.

From math to science, history too,

There’s so much in school for you to pursue.

3. Playground Whispers

Whispers on the playground, secrets shared,

Laughter ringing out, friendships bared.

A world within a world, a special place,

School memories etched on every face.

4. Lessons Learned

Lessons learned, not just from books,

But from teachers’ encouraging looks.

Patience, kindness, understanding, and grace,

These are the lessons that time won’t erase.

5. School Days End

As the sun sets on another school day,

We pack our books and make our way.

Tired but fulfilled, hearts aglow,

Ready for tomorrow’s knowledge to sow.

By using poems in the classroom, teachers can help open their students’ minds to different ways of thinking and provide a creative outlet for expression.

Spending time reading and discussing poetry is an excellent way to increase literacy, learn about new language patterns, and improve writing skills.

Poetry also encourages imagination and gives students the opportunity to interpret literary works according to their own experiences. Ultimately, these simple examples of poems about school are just the beginning and can be adapted to include other topics or genres as desired.

No matter what type of poem teachers choose to share in their lessons, it will surely add depth while having fun with rhyme, imagery, and literary devices.

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About The Author

I'm Dan Higgins, one of the faces behind The Teaching Couple. With 15 years in the education sector and a decade as a teacher, I've witnessed the highs and lows of school life. Over the years, my passion for supporting fellow teachers and making school more bearable has grown. The Teaching Couple is my platform to share strategies, tips, and insights from my journey. Together, we can shape a better school experience for all.

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Home • Kid • Education

35 Most Famous Rhyming Poems For Kids

Read the rhyme and enjoy the rhythm.

Vinita Agrawal is an accomplished poet hailing from Indore, India. She has garnered significant recognition for her poetic endeavors, including winning the prestigious Proverse prize in Hong Kong in 2021 for her collection of poems titled "... more

Praven is an English literature expert. He did his bachelors in English from Delhi University and masters in English from Manipur University. Besides, he holds a certificate in multimedia design and c... more

Harshita is a graduate in commerce and holds a PG Diploma in Patent and Copyrights Law from NALSAR University. She has also pursued CA and has more than three years of internship experience in auditin... more

Benidamika holds a masters degree in Counseling Psychology from Assam Don Bosco University and another masters degree in English Literature from North Eastern Hill University. At MomJunction, Benidami... more

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Rhyming poems for kids are one of the best ways to introduce and nurture their joy of reading. Rhymes are the repetition of similar-sounding words. When employed in a well-written poem, they combine styles and feelings to create a lyrical rhythm, making it easier for children to pick up new words and their meanings. Thus, these poems help children master the language. In addition, children can distinguish different expressions leading to the attachment of emotions to the art and aesthetics of the poetry.

Rhyming poems combined with pictures and fingerplays create an exciting audio-visual experience for children. An anonymous kindergarten teacher and mother of four, going by the username dbsenk, shares a few tips that she used when she taught her students poems using fingerplay. She explains, “We all know that different children learn through a variety of styles, and you can present poems and fingerplays in different ways too… I love acting out poems and nursery rhymes – or having 5 children stand up and sit down one at a time with a countdown rhyme. I found the easiest way to keep most children engaged and participating with simple poems and rhymes is to include pictures. When you allow the children to hold and manipulate the pictures as you recite the poems you are incorporating auditory, visual, and kinesthetic styles, and the kids love it ( i )!”

So let us read further to explore some rhyming poems that will keep your children engaged and entertained for hours.

35 Rhyming Poems For Kids

Poems can nurture the creative spirits of your little one with tenderness and familiarity. Rhyming poems are appealing to children and make their free time fun.

1. From A Railway Carriage , by Robert Louis Stevenson

Faster than fairies, faster than witches, Bridges and houses, hedges and ditches; And charging along like troops in a battle, All through the meadows the horses and cattle: All of the sights of the hill and the plain Fly as thick as driving rain; And ever again, in the wink of an eye, Painted stations whistle by.

Here is a child who clambers and scrambles, All by himself and gathering brambles; Here is a tramp who stands and gazes; And there is the green for stringing the daisies! Here is a cart run away in the road Lumping along with man and load; And here is a mill and there is a river: Each a glimpse and gone for ever!

2. February , by Mary Ann Hoberman

February, funny word, With my “r” that’s hardly heard, Different in so many ways, I’m the month with fewest days; And another thing that’s strange is I’m the only month that changes: Every leap year – one in four – I am given one day more, Twenty-nine from twenty-eight (Not so easy to keep straight). Still it’s lots of fun to vary – I like being February!

Be glad your nose is on your face, not pasted on some other place, for if it were where it is not, you might dislike your nose a lot.

Imagine if your precious nose were sandwiched in between your toes, that clearly would not be a treat, for you’d be forced to smell your feet.

Your nose would be a source of dread were it attached atop your head, it soon would drive you to despair, forever tickled by your hair.

Within your ear, your nose would be an absolute catastrophe, for when you were obliged to sneeze, your brain would rattle from the breeze.

Your nose, instead, through thick and thin, remains between your eyes and chin, not pasted on some other place— be glad your nose is on your face!

4. Homework Stew , by Kenn Nesbitt

I cooked my math book in a broth and stirred it to a steaming froth. I threw in papers—pencils, too— to make a pot of homework stew.

I turned the flame up nice and hot and tossed my binder in the pot. I sprinkled in my book report with colored markers by the quart.

Despite its putrid, noxious gas, I proudly took my stew to class. And though the smell was so grotesque, I set it on my teacher’s desk .

My teacher said, “You’re quite a chef. But, still, you’re going to get an F. I didn’t ask for ‘homework stew,’ I said, ‘Tomorrow, homework’s due.’”

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5. Said The Toad , by J. Patrick Lewis

I was really in a muddle looking over a mud puddle ’cause I didn’t have a paddle or a twig to ride the reef. But I said, Oh, fiddle-faddle, this is just a little piddle of a second fiddle puddle so I saddled up a leaf. I set sail on the puddle, but I reached the muddy middle and I rocked the leaf a little, then I gave it all I had. And I solved the mighty riddle of the whole caboodle puddle when I hopped up on the middle of a beetle launching pad.

6. The Romance , by Shel Silverstein

Said the pelican to the elephant , “I think we should marry, I do. ’Cause there’s no name that rhymes with me, And no one else rhymes with you.” Said the elephant to the pelican, “There’s sense to what you’ve said, For rhyming’s as good a reason as any For any two to wed.” And so the elephant wed the pelican, And they dined upon lemons and limes, And now they have a baby pelicant, And everybody rhymes.

7. Cat , by Marilyn Singer

I prefer warm fur, a perfect fire to lie beside, a cozy lap where I can nap, an empty chair when she’s not there. I want heat on my feet on my nose on my hide. No cat I remember dislikes December Inside.

8. Now We Are Six , by A.A. Milne

When I was One, I had just begun. When I was Two, I was nearly new. When I was Three I was hardly me. When I was Four, I was not much more. When I was Five, I was just alive. But now I am Six, I’m as clever as clever, So I think I’ll be six now for ever and ever.

9. Jack , by Jane Yolen

Jack was quite nimble, Jack was quite quick, Jack gave the beanstalk A mighty big kick.

Down came the giant— GIGANTIC fall— Bottoms up in a crater, Thus ending it all.

10. Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Bat , by Lewis Carroll

Twinkle, twinkle, little bat! How I wonder what you’re at! Up above the world you fly, Like a teatray in the sky.

11. Stopping by Woods On A Snowy Evening , by Robert Frost

Whose woods these are I think I know. His house is in the village, though; He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer To stop without a farmhouse near Between the woods and frozen lake The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake To ask if there is some mistake. The only other sound’s the sweep Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep.

12. Down Behind The Dustbin , by Michael Rosen

Down behind the dustbin I met a dog called Ted. ‘Leave me alone,’ he says, ‘I’m just going to bed.’ Down behind the dustbin I met a dog called Roger. ‘Do you own this bin?’ I said. ‘No. I’m only a lodger.’ Down behind the dustbin I met a dog called Sue. ‘What are you doing here?’ I said. ‘I’ve got nothing else to do.’

13. Composed upon Westminster Bridge, September 3, 1802 , by William Wordsworth

Earth has not anything to show more fair: Dull would he be of soul who could pass by A sight so touching in its majesty: This City now doth, like a garment, wear The beauty of the morning; silent, bare, Ships, towers, domes, theatres, and temples lie Open unto the fields, and to the sky; All bright and glittering in the smokeless air. Never did sun more beautifully steep In his first splendour, valley, rock, or hill; Ne’er saw I, never felt, a calm so deep! The river glideth at his own sweet will: Dear God! the very houses seem asleep; And all that mighty heart is lying still!

14. Desire , by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Where true Love burns Desire is Love’s pure flame; It is the reflex of our earthly frame, That takes its meaning from the nobler part, And but translates the language of the heart.

15. Love’s Philosophy , by Percy Bysshe Shelley

The fountains mingle with the river And the rivers with the ocean, The winds of heaven mix for ever With a sweet emotion; Nothing in the world is single; All things by a law divine In one spirit meet and mingle. Why not I with thine?—

See the mountains kiss high heaven And the waves clasp one another; No sister-flower would be forgiven If it disdained its brother; And the sunlight clasps the earth And the moonbeams kiss the sea: What is all this sweet work worth If thou kiss not me?

16. The Sick Rose , by William Blake

O Rose thou art sick. The invisible worm, That flies in the night In the howling storm:

Has found out thy bed Of crimson joy: And his dark secret love Does thy life destroy.

17. Stanzas For Music , by Lord Byron

There be none of Beauty’s daughters With a magic like thee; And like music on the waters Is thy sweet voice to me: When, as if its sound were causing The charmed ocean’s pausing, The waves lie still and gleaming, And the lull’d winds seem dreaming:

And the midnight moon is weaving Her bright chain o’er the deep; Whose breast is gently heaving, As an infant’s asleep: So the spirit bows before thee, To listen and adore thee; With a full but soft emotion, Like the swell of Summer’s ocean.

18. In The Bleak Midwinter , by Christina Rossetti

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan, Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone; Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow, In the bleak midwinter, long ago.

Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain; Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign. In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.

Enough for Him, whom cherubim, worship night and day, Breastful of milk, and a mangerful of hay; Enough for Him, whom angels fall before, The ox and ass and camel which adore.

Angels and archangels may have gathered there, Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air; But His mother only, in her maiden bliss, Worshipped the beloved with a kiss.

What can I give Him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb; If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part; Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.

19. Fall, Leaves, Fall , by Emily Bronte

Fall, leaves, fall; die, flowers, away; Lengthen night and shorten day; Every leaf speaks bliss to me Fluttering from the autumn tree. I shall smile when wreaths of snow Blossom where the rose should grow; I shall sing when night’s decay Ushers in a drearier day.

20. No Second Troy , by William Butler Yeats

Why should I blame her that she filled my days With misery, or that she would of late Have taught to ignorant men most violent ways, Or hurled the little streets upon the great, Had they but courage equal to desire? What could have made her peaceful with a mind That nobleness made simple as a fire, With beauty like a tightened bow, a kind That is not natural in an age like this, Being high and solitary and most stern? Why, what could she have done, being what she is? Was there another Troy for her to burn?

My love is in a light attire Among the apple trees, Where the gay winds do most desire To run in companies.

There, where the gay winds stay to woo The young leaves as they pass, My love goes slowly, bending to Her shadow on the grass.

And where the sky’s a pale blue cup Over the laughing land, My love goes lightly, holding up Her dress with dainty hand.

22. The Heavenly City , by Stevie Smith

I sigh for the heavenly country, Where the heavenly people pass, And the sea is as quiet as a mirror Of beautiful beautiful glass.

I walk in the heavenly field, With lilies and poppies bright, I am dressed in a heavenly coat Of polished white. When I walk in the heavenly parkland My feet on the pasture are bare, Tall waves the grass, but no harmful Creature is there. At night I fly over the housetops, And stand on the bright moony beams; Gold are all heaven’s rivers, And silver her streams.

23. My Kingdom , by Robert Louis Stevenson

Down by a shining water well I found a very little dell, No higher than my head. The heather and the gorse about In summer bloom were coming out, Some yellow and some red.

I called the little pool a sea; The little hills were big to me; For I am very small. I made a boat, I made a town, I searched the caverns up and down, And named them one and all.

And all about was mine, I said, The little sparrows overhead, The little minnows too. This was the world and I was king; For me the bees came by to sing, For me the swallows flew.

I played there were no deeper seas, Nor any wider plains than these, Nor other kings than me. At last I heard my mother call Out from the house at evenfall, To call me home to tea.

And I must rise and leave my dell, And leave my dimpled water well, And leave my heather blooms. Alas! and as my home I neared, How very big my nurse appeared. How great and cool the rooms!

24. The Porcupine , by Ogden Nash

Any hound a porcupine nudges Can’t be blamed for harboring grudges, I know one hound that laughed all winter At a porcupine that sat on a splinter.

25. A Nonsense Song , by Stephen Vincent Benet

Rosemary, Rosemary, let down your hair! The cow’s in the hammock, the crow’s in the chair! I was making you songs out of sawdust and silk, But they came in to call and they spilt them like milk. The cat’s in the coffee, the wind’s in the east, He screams like a peacock and whines like a priest And the saw of his voice makes my blood turn to mice- So let down your long hair and shut off his advice! Pluck out the thin hairpins and let the waves stream, Brown-gold as brook-waters that dance through a dream, Gentle-curled as young cloudlings, sweet-fragrant as bay, Till it takes all the fierceness of living away. Oh, when you are with me, my heart is white steel, But the bat’s in the belfry, the mold’s in the meal, And I think I hear skeletons climbing the stair! -Rosemary, Rosemary, let down your bright hair!

26. Dentist And The Crocodile , by Roald Dahl

The crocodile, with cunning smile, sat in the dentist’s chair. He said, “Right here and everywhere my teeth require repair.” The dentist’s face was turning white. He quivered, quaked and shook. He muttered, “I suppose I’m going to have to take a look.” “I want you”, Crocodile declared, “to do the back ones first. The molars at the very back are easily the worst.” He opened wide his massive jaws. It was a fearsome sight— At least three hundred pointed teeth, all sharp and shining white. The dentist kept himself well clear. He stood two yards away. He chose the longest probe he had to search out the decay. “I said to do the back ones first!” the Crocodile called out. “You’re much too far away, dear sir, to see what you’re about. To do the back ones properly you’ve got to put your head Deep down inside my great big mouth,” the grinning Crocky said. The poor old dentist wrung his hands and, weeping in despair, He cried, “No no! I see them all extremely well from here!” Just then, in burst a lady, in her hands a golden chain. She cried, “Oh Croc, you naughty boy, you’re playing tricks again!” “Watch out!” the dentist shrieked and started climbing up the wall. “He’s after me! He’s after you! He’s going to eat us all!” “Don’t be a twit,” the lady said, and flashed a gorgeous smile. “He’s harmless. He’s my little pet, my lovely crocodile.”

27. Trees , by Joyce Kilmer

I think that I shall never see A poem lovely as a tree. A tree whose hungry mouth is prest Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast; A tree that looks at God all day, And lifts her leafy arms to pray; A tree that may in Summer wear A nest of robins in her hair; Upon whose bosom snow has lain; Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me, But only God can make a tree.

28. Across The Border , by Sophie Jewett

Where all the trees bear golden flowers, And all the birds are white; Where fairy folk in dancing hours Burn stars for candlelight;

Where every wind and leaf can talk, But no man understand Save one whose child-feet chanced to walk Green paths of fairyland;

I followed two swift silver wings; I stalked a roving song; I startled shining, silent things; I wandered all day long.

But when it seemed the shadowy hours Whispered of soft-foot night, I crept home to sweet common flowers, Brown birds, and candlelight.

29. When I Was One-and-Twenty , by A.E. Housman

When I was one-and-twenty I heard a wise man say, “Give crowns and pounds and guineas But not your heart away; Give pearls away and rubies But keep your fancy free.” But I was one-and-twenty, No use to talk to me.

When I was one-and-twenty I heard him say again, “The heart out of the bosom Was never given in vain; ’Tis paid with sighs a plenty And sold for endless rue.” And I am two-and-twenty, And oh, ’tis true, ’tis true.

30. The Violet , by Jane Taylor

Down in a green and shady bed, A modest violet grew, Its stalk was bent, it hung its head, As if to hide from view.

And yet it was a lovely flower, Its colours bright and fair; It might have graced a rosy bower, Instead of hiding there, Yet there it was content to bloom, In modest tints arrayed; And there diffused its sweet perfume, Within the silent shade. Then let me to the valley go, This pretty flower to see; That I may also learn to grow In sweet humility.

My doggy ate my essay. He picked up all my mail. He cleaned my dirty closet and dusted with his tail.

He straightened out my posters and swept my wooden floor. My parents almost fainted when he fixed my bedroom door.

I did not try to stop him. He made my windows shine. My room looked like a palace, and my dresser smelled like pine. He fluffed up every pillow. He folded all my clothes. He even cleaned my fish tank with a toothbrush and a hose. I thought it was amazing to see him use a broom. I’m glad he ate my essay on “How to Clean My Room.”

32. When I Am Gone , by Shel Silverstein

When I am gone what will you do? Who will write and draw for you? Someone smarter—someone new? Someone better—maybe YOU!

33. A Child’s Calendar , by John Updike

November The stripped and shapely Maple grieves The ghosts of her Departed leaves. The ground is hard, As hard as stone. The year is old, The birds are flown. And yet the world, In its distress, Displays a certain Loveliness—

34. The Mermaid Queen , by Joseph Coelho

My mother, The Mermaid Queen, wept tiny pearl tears. For weeks, for months, she cried through the seasons. High-tide storm-sobbing, would it last for years? Her sadness felt endless, beyond all reason.

Mermaids cry puddles, lakes and even streams. My mother’s wailed river flooded our home. She cried in the night, she cried in my dreams, no comfort could reach her floating throne.

I swim in her blues with webbed feet and hands, my mind feels sodden like earth after rain, my feelings are scattered like windswept sands. I wonder how long I will feel this pain. To go feels wrong, to stay makes me feel sad. I want to see my mum and I want to see my dad.

35. Life Doesn’t Frighten Me , by Maya Angelou

Shadows on the wall Noises down the hall Life doesn’t frighten me at all

Bad dogs barking loud Big ghosts in a cloud Life doesn’t frighten me at all

Mean old Mother Goose Lions on the loose They don’t frighten me at all

Dragons breathing flame On my counterpane That doesn’t frighten me at all.

I go boo Make them shoo I make fun Way they run I won’t cry So they fly I just smile They go wild Life doesn’t frighten me at all. Tough guys fight All alone at night Life doesn’t frighten me at all.

Panthers in the park Strangers in the dark No, they don’t frighten me at all.

That new classroom where Boys all pull my hair (Kissy little girls With their hair in curls) They don’t frighten me at all.

Don’t show me frogs and snakes And listen for my scream, If I’m afraid at all It’s only in my dreams.

I’ve got a magic charm That I keep up my sleeve I can walk the ocean floor And never have to breathe. Life doesn’t frighten me at all Not at all Not at all. Life doesn’t frighten me at all.

Why Do We Teach Rhymes To Kindergarten?

Rhymes are beneficial and provide an educational method of learning that is innovative and fun-filled for children. Some of the primary reasons they are a necessary part of the kindergarten curriculum are:

• They play an essential role in language development as children listen attentively, understanding how and where to use the desired words.
• Children can differentiate meanings of similar-sounding words, thereby showing openness to improving their vocabulary and communication skills .
• Through rhymes, they learn various moral lessons and life skills or respect, friendliness, loyalty, sympathy, kindness, and warmth.
• Rhymes keep them engaged, offer companionship, and help develop their thinking.

How Do You Teach Rhyming Words To Kindergarten?

Every child has a learning curve when it comes to mastering a skill. However, educators and parents can introduce rhymes in kindergarten. With proper engagement, learning activities, and teaching aids like books, games, and the internet, teaching rhymes have become more accessible. Learning rhymes is a three-fold process in which the children learn to identify the sounds made, differentiate and understand the presence of similar-sounding words, and replicate it by producing rhyming words . Some tips to keep in mind while teaching rhyming words to kindergarten are:

• Try keeping it simple and easy, and start with the familiar nursery rhymes
• Find innovative games and activities to teach similar-sounding words
• Include audio rhyming lessons to develop sharp listening skills
• Teach different vocal sounds
• Lastly, be patient and polite with the children

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is a five-line poem?

Five-line poems or stanzas are known as quintain or quintets.

2. What are two-line rhyming stanzas called?

A couplet is a two-line rhyming stanza consisting of two successive lines and the same meter.

3. How can parents and educators use rhyming poems to help children develop language skills?

Rhyming poems expose children to rhythmic patterns and enhance their ability to recognize and manipulate the sounds in spoken language. They can support children’s vocabulary acquisition while making learning enjoyable and engaging.

4. How does rhyming contribute to the rhythm and flow of a poem?

Rhyming creates a pattern of similar sounds at the end of lines, adding musicality and structure. The consistent use of rhymes helps establish a regular meter, giving the poem a distinct modulation of the voice (cadence) that contributes to the poem’s overall flow.

5. What is the importance of rhyming in children’s poetry?

Rhyming in children’s poetry helps develop phonemic awareness, supports language and vocabulary development, and makes the poems more engaging and memorable for young readers, fostering a love for language and literature.

6. What are some common themes in rhyming poems for kids?

Animals, nature, friendship, imagination, adventure, family, emotions, bedtime, and learning experiences are typical themes in children’s rhyming poems. These themes often resonate with children, which helps capture their interest in poems and foster a sense of wonder and connection to the world around them.

Rhyming poems for kids have existed for centuries and are often passed down through generations. They are short, catchy, and fun to recite. As a result, these poems have become an essential part of children’s education. They enable children to pick up the language and impart life lessons. The key is to select age-appropriate rhymes that are easy to learn and find activities that improve their listening skills. In addition, rhyming poems inspire and ignite young minds with a fertile imagination.

Infographic: Popular Rhyming Toys

Rhyming toys are a fun way to educate children and teach them the foundation of language and literature. They help refine the motor skills in children and make them coordinate with different images, shapes, and words. Furthermore, they stimulate creativity and imagination in children. Let us look at six popular rhyming toys for children in this infographic.

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Get the high-quality PDF version of this infographic.

Key Pointers

• Rhymes are an integral part of children’s language learning.
• They enrich children’s vocabulary.
• Rhymes impart moral values and education.
• They are a great way to introduce literature to children.

Image: Stable Diffusion/MomJunction Design Team

Let your kids learn to love to rhyme with this fun and educational video from Jack Hartmann! Kids will learn to recognize and create rhymes with ease.

Personal Experience: Source

MomJunction articles include first-hand experiences to provide you with better insights through real-life narratives. Here are the sources of personal accounts referenced in this article.

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10 of the Best Examples of Rhyming Poems Everyone Should Know

By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)

Rhyme is an important part of many poems, to the extent that, to many people, ‘rhyme’ is synonymous with ‘poetry’. ‘Does it rhyme?’ is the question many poets have been asked when they reveal to someone else that they write poetry.

It’s worth bearing in mind that poetry, however, is much older than rhyme: it’s likely that rhyme only became a more central part of poetry during the early Christian era, when hymns often contained rhyming units as an aid to memory and because the chiming of two different, yet related, words produced a pleasing effect.

And yet there’s plenty of poetry that doesn’t rhyme. Homer’s epic poems don’t rhyme. Much medieval alliterative poetry didn’t rhyme. Shakespearean blank verse, Milton’s Paradise Lost , and Wordsworth’s great autobiographical poem The Prelude all do happily without rhyme, with Milton even writing a preface to a reissue of Paradise Lost explaining why he wished to liberate his epic poem from the shackles of rhyme.

And of course, modern and contemporary free verse avoids or rejects rhyme in favour of a looser musicality and other sound-effects (pararhyme, alliteration, assonance, consonance, and so on).

So poems which do rhyme do so often for a good reason, just as poems which are rhymeless do without rhyme for a reason. Let’s take a look at some of the best poems which utilise rhyme, and explore why they might be doing so.

1. Anonymous, ‘ Sir Patrick Spens ’.

The King sits in Dunferline toun, Drinkin the blude-reid wine ‘O whaur will A get a skeely skipper Tae sail this new ship o mine?’

O up and spak an eldern knight, Sat at the king’s richt knee; ‘Sir Patrick Spens is the best sailor That ever sailt the sea.’

So begins one of the best-known ballads to come from Scotland: the so-called ‘Border ballads’. In ballads, the rhyme scheme is usually abcb , so the even lines of each quatrain rhyme (e.g., ‘wine’ and ‘mine’), but the odd lines don’t (so ‘toun’ and ‘skipper’).

Ballads were originally written to be sung to accompanying music, and the to-and-fro of the rhyme, and the alternating lines of tetrameter and trimeter, lend the lines a brisk, lively rhythm and pattern.

2. Sir Philip Sidney, Sonnet 99 .

When far spent night persuades each mortal eye, To whom nor art nor nature granteth light, To lay his then mark-wanting shafts of sight, Closed with their quivers, in sleep’s armoury; With windows ope then most my mind doth lie …

This is a curious example of a rhyming poem from one of the earliest sonnet-writers in English. Sidney (1554-86) was a soldier, statesman, courtier, and poet: a true ‘Renaissance man’. His Astrophil and Stella (written in the early 1580s; published 1591) is one of the first sonnet sequences written in English.

This poem from the sequence is a Petrarchan or Italian sonnet, rhymed abba abba cdcdee . But look at how every single line ends with a word that plays on an ‘i’ (‘eye’?) sound: light, night, eye, blind, sight, and so on both semantically and sonically, we might say, summon the subject of the poem.

3. Alexander Pope, from An Essay on Criticism .

But still the worst with most regret commend, For each ill author is as bad a friend To what base ends, and by what abject ways, Are mortals urged, through sacred lust of praise! Ah, ne’er so dire a thirst of glory boast, Nor in the critic let the man be lost Good-nature and good sense must ever join; To err is human, to forgive, divine …

In the late seventeenth century, and for the next hundred years or so, the most common rhyming form in English poetry was probably the heroic couplet: rhyming couplets of iambic pentameter, as in the clipped, epigrammatic style of Alexander Pope’s 1711 poem here.

The last line of the section we’ve quoted above has become proverbial: Pope’s point is that a good critic forgives the faults of other writers, accepting that making mistakes is part of being human and we adopt the higher moral ground when we forgive people for natural human errors.

4. Alfred, Lord Tennyson, from In Memoriam .

He is not here; but far away The noise of life begins again, And ghastly thro’ the drizzling rain On the bald street breaks the blank day.

In Memoriam A. H. H. (1850), Tennyson’s long elegy for his dear friend who died suddenly in 1833, is written in rhyming quatrains (four-line stanzas) throughout. Each quatrain uses what is called ‘enclosed rhyme’ or ‘envelope rhyme’: that is, an abba pattern where the b rhymes are enclosed within the a rhymes.

Note here how Tennyson also joins the a and b rhymes through their shared long ‘a’ sound: ‘away’ and ‘day’ also chime with ‘again’ and ‘rain’, as if echoing the wailing cry of grief Tennyson himself is uttering when he revisits his friend’s home.

5. Christina Rossetti, ‘ Remember ’.

Remember me when I am gone away, Gone far away into the silent land; When you can no more hold me by the hand, Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay. Remember me when no more day by day You tell me of our future that you plann’d: Only remember me; you understand It will be late to counsel then or pray …

Written when she was still a teenager, ‘Remember’ is one of Rossetti’s finest sonnets. Look at how she utilises the repeated abba abba rhymes of the ‘octave’ (the opening eight-line section) of the Petrarchan sonnet to suggest the toing-and-froing of grief and parting: the speaker talks about dying (‘gone away’) but rhymes this line with a reference to her desire to remain (‘half turn to go yet turning stay’).

6. Emily Dickinson, ‘ I Heard a Fly Buzz ’.

I heard a Fly buzz – when I died – The Stillness in the Room Was like the Stillness in the Air – Between the Heaves of Storm –

The Eyes around – had wrung them dry – And Breaths were gathering firm For that last Onset – when the King Be witnessed – in the Room –

You’ll notice something different about rhyme in this Emily Dickinson poem. Dickinson (1830-86) is perhaps best-known for her distinctive use of dashes in her poems, but she also did interesting things with rhyme.

In this poem, one of her most famous, we find examples of what’s known as pararhyme – half-rhyme or ‘slant rhyme’, as it’s also known. So ‘Room’ and ‘Storm’ in the first stanza, and then ‘firm’ and ‘Room’ in the second, suggest a kinship between the ‘rhyming’ words (the shared final ‘m’ sound) but without constituting full rhyme (as ‘Room’ and, say, ‘doom’ would).

The effect is at once more natural than full rhyme, which can strike the reader as artificial, and stranger than full rhyme, because it suggests rhyme without following through with it.

7. Edward Thomas, ‘ Tall Nettles ’.

Tall nettles cover up, as they have done These many springs, the rusty harrow, the plough Long worn out, and the roller made of stone: Only the elm butt tops the nettles now …

This short nature poem by Edward Thomas (1878-1917) does some fascinating things with rhyme. Although the poem apparently follows a simple abab pattern, note how the ‘ow’ sounds of ‘plough’ and ‘now’ in the first stanza flourish into the ‘flower’ and ‘shower’ in the second.

Observe also how the odd lines contain not full rhyme, but what’s known as ‘eye rhyme’: when words appear to rhyme when our eye looks at them on the page, but when we speak them out loud, they sound different. So ‘done’ and ‘stone’, and ‘most’ and ‘lost’, look as though they will chime perfectly but instead they utilise different vowel sounds.

This helps to reinforce the quiet surprise the poet feels at finding beauty in the dusty nettles growing over rusty old farm tools; full rhyme would perhaps be inappropriate for such a topic.

8. Claude McKay, ‘ If We Must Die ’.

If we must die, O let us nobly die, So that our precious blood may not be shed In vain; then even the monsters we defy Shall be constrained to honor us though dead!

McKay (1889-1948) was a leading poet in the Harlem Renaissance just after the First World War. McKay wrote the sonnet ‘If We Must Die’ in response to mob attacks by white Americans upon African-American communities during an event that became known as the Red Summer.

Note in the above quatrain from the sonnet, which uses alternate rhyme ( abab ), ‘die’ not only rhymes with, but in a sense develops into ‘defy’, with ‘dead’ chiming semantically with ‘die’ as well as rhyming with ‘shed’.

9. Wilfred Owen, ‘ Strange Meeting ’.

It seemed that out of battle I escaped Down some profound dull tunnel, long since scooped Through granites which titanic wars had groined.

Yet also there encumbered sleepers groaned, Too fast in thought or death to be bestirred. Then, as I probed them, one sprang up, and stared With piteous recognition in fixed eyes, Lifting distressful hands, as if to bless …

After Dickinson, perhaps the first great proponent of pararhyme in modern poetry was the war poet Wilfred Owen (1893-1918), who used it in a number of his poems about the First World War.

In this poem, in which the speaker dies and goes to hell, only to meet the man he killed, the rhyming couplets we found in Alexander Pope have given way to the uneasy alliance between words which we find in Owen’s ‘rhyming’ lines: ‘escaped’ and ‘scooped’, ‘groined’ and ‘groaned’, and so on. The First World War was not a heroic war, so no heroic couplets: instead, just the estranging and unsettling sensation created by pararhyme.

10. Sarah Howe, ‘ Relativity ’.

These are the opening lines of a contemporary poem which Howe write for Stephen Hawking; you can read the poem in full at the Paris Review by following the link above.

Note how the ‘rhymes’ here are subtler and less ‘perfect’ than in many earlier poems: ‘dark’ and ‘track’ utilise pararhyme, as do ‘kn ow ’ and ‘shad ow s’.

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Hilaire Belloc’s children poems given trigger warning over ‘hurtful’ rhymes

C lassic children’s poems have been given a trigger warning by a publisher because they may be “harmful” to modern readers, The Telegraph can reveal.

Prolific author Hilaire Belloc ’s popular comic verse, including 1907’s Cautionary Tales For Children, has been republished by Pan Macmillan with a new cautionary note.

A trigger warning printed in the collection of humorous children’s poems warns that the rhymes may be “hurtful or indeed harmful” to modern-day readers.

The disclaimer alerts readers to potentially troubling “phrases and terminology” in the collection which includes animal-themed verse and parody poems such as Jim: Who ran away from his Nurse, and was eaten by a Lion.

The warning about harmful language “prevalent at the time” when historic works were written follows a new trend in publishing which has seen cautionary notes printed in reissued works by Ian Fleming, Agatha Christie and Roald Dahl .

Printed in the opening pages of the Belloc collection put out by Pan Macmillan, the publisher warns that the text has not been edited and is therefore “true to the original in every way and is reflective of the language and period in which it was originally written”.

It adds: “Readers should be aware that there may be hurtful or indeed harmful phrases and terminology that were prevalent at the time this book was written and in the context of the historical setting of this book.”

The publisher adds in the lengthy disclaimer that “Macmillan believes changing the text to reflect today’s world would undermine the authenticity of the original, so has decided to leave the text in its entirety”.

However, the publishing house states that retaining the original language of the author does not constitute an endorsement of the “characterisation, content or language” in Belloc’s poems.

Belloc was born in 1870 to a French father but raised in Sussex. He later served as Liberal MP in Salford.

A friend of G K Chesterton and George Bernard Shaw, he was an Anglo-French and Catholic outsider, whose work spanned travel writing, histories, religious essays, political tracts, and poetry.

He is also known for illustrated collections of comic poems, including Cautionary Tales For Children, spanning rhymes about characters suffering absurd consequences for mild infractions.

Other volumes include The Bad Child’s Book of Beasts and More Beasts (For Worse Children), which are filled with amusing poems about animals.

These three collections have been combined into one volume by Pan Macmillan and covered by the trigger warning about “harmful” language.

Cautionary Tales includes a zoo keeper being called “fat”, while the 1896 collection Book of Beasts makes reference to “the Kurd” and “little Turk”, and More Beasts makes a rhyme of “the woeful superstitions of the East”.

‘Generalised anxiety’

Chris Hare, the vice chairman of the Hilaire Belloc society and author of the work Hilaire Belloc: Politics of Living, has criticised the use of warnings.

He told The Telegraph:  “It’s what we see today, a huge sense of caution and a generalised anxiety about saying the wrong thing.

“We live in an age where people are permanently anxious about causing offence.

“Since the Second World War, we have lived in quite a coddled society. It’s no longer the school of hard knocks, but the school of comfy living.

“Belloc himself saw this coming, a time when old ideas of morality have faded and nobody has any idea what might be right or wrong, so they worry about what might cause offence.

“I think he wouldn’t be surprised by this, although he would likely be saddened if it was because of his children’s poetry.”

Pan Macmillan has been approached for comment.

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Printable Poetry Activity Worksheets for Kids

I thought you might like to know that I’ve started putting printable poetry activity worksheets for some of my poems on the website. You’ll find them on the  Poetry Activities  page under the heading “Worksheets.”

You can use these worksheets at home or in class to give kids a few more fun activities to do beyond just reading the poems. By answering questions, writing, and even unscrambling words, kids will get a little more practice to help improve their comprehension and literacy.

A  huge  thank you to  Primary Leap  for creating a number of these wonderful activity worksheets! Visit  their website  for thousands more printable activity worksheets for kids organized by grade level and subject.

Here are direct links to the activity worksheets I’ve posted so far. Enjoy!

• “All My Great Excuses” Printable Worksheet
• “Autumn Is the Time of Year” Printable Worksheet
• “Betty Met a Yeti” Printable Worksheet
• “I Eat Spaghetti With a Spoon” Printable Worksheet
• “I Made a New Password” Printable Worksheet
• “I Think My Dad is Dracula” Printable Worksheet
• “Mr. Yes and Mr. No” Printable Worksheet
• “My Invisible Dragon” Printable Worksheet
• “My Mirror Likes to Argue” Printable Worksheet
• “My Sheep Is Being Sheepish” Printable Worksheet
• “My Puppy Ate My Earbuds” Printable Worksheet
• “I Lost My Head” Printable Worksheet
• “A Sheep Is Asleep On My Sofa” Printable Worksheet
• “The Weather is Perfect for Running” Printable Worksheet
• “Wayne the Stegosaurus” Printable Worksheet
• “Welcome Back to School” Printable Worksheet

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