Monday 21 December 2009

Quick before the sleigh leaves!

There's a Xmas Eve poem for children at Ink, Sweat and Tears (here). It's the first poem I've ever written especially for children. See wot u fink.

x

22 comments:

Niamh B said...

lovely Rachel, a nice twist, I especially like the ending. Did you know you can track Santa's progress on Google earth apparently?! Not that I'd have ever done that... obviously...

Jim Murdoch said...

On the whole quite good - delighted to see you managed it without resorting to twee rhymes - but the kid's langauge is a bit adult here and there. I'm sure it will perform well where an audience will suspend disbelief and accept you as a child while you read it.

The Solitary Walker said...

Nice one, Rachel.

Rachel Fox said...

Thanks Niamh and SW. And Jim...it depends on the child...that's how my daughter speaks (I checked it all with her before publication). Kids are pretty precocious sometimes, especially if they watch a lot of TV/films and/or spend a lot of time with their Grandma!

Ho, ho.

Who you callin' a ho?

etc.

etc.

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Rachel Fox said...

Oh and I never 'resort' to twee rhymes. Sometimes I run towards them, arms outstretched, shouting 'come to me, come to me'. The more other poets hate 'em the more I love 'em.
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Dr. Jeanne Iris said...

Nice, Rachel! I can imagine a precocious child thinking these thoughts. They get excited about Christmas, too! ; )

May your Christmas be magical!

Dominic Rivron said...

Took me back. And thanks for reminding me: I stuck a board over the fireplace a bit ago, behind the electric fire. I think I better move it!

Titus said...

Loved it, and I already know some children whose phraseology is very similar - particularly the girls, who seem to assimilate adultese very early.

Congratulations!

Rachel Fox said...

Santa's best to you Jeanne, Dominic and Titus.
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Totalfeckineejit said...

Brilliant poem Rachel.Very funny and very true.Loved it and well done for getting it into IST.Pip pip!

Marion McCready said...

Nicely done, liking the internal and slant rhyming and there's a definite energy of childrens excitment. Funny to think we were all like that once, childhood is such a small part of our existance isn't it?!

Rachel Fox said...

Thanks folks. I read it at the folk club (last event before Xmas) and I did have to turn into a child to read it somehow. Luckily that comes fairly easily for me...no great leap of imagination required.
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green ink said...

Bloody brilliant! Transported me back to my "I can't sleep, Santa's coming!" childhood Christmas Eves!

Anonymous said...

I was a child again - just for a moment - upon reading your poem. The sense of expectation on Christmas Eve was almost unbearable. Excellent poem!

Liz said...

Cool poem, Rachel...love the bursting-with-excitement feel...remember it from my kiddo days. It was magic.

Rachel Fox said...

Thanks all. Glad you're enjoying it. Maybe I'll try some more kids poems...I have had it in mind for a while.
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hope said...

I LOVE it! It captures all the essence of being a kid...what do you MEAN sleep? :)

Good luck with getting your little angel to bed on time. Please tell me she still believes...or at least plays dumb for now. You so hate to disappoint the parents.

Rachel Fox said...

She's past the craziest sleepless years I think, Hope (ages 7 and 8). This year she does still believe in Santa but in a kind of half-knowing-it's-us way. She's had a great Xmas build-up though - lots of singing and shows and excitement (and, as yet, no illness). And of course there's been the snow too!
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Crafty Green Poet said...

excellent poem, i enjoyed and added to the anonymice too...

Rachel Fox said...

Thanks Juliet. I wrote it for a competition (no joy...) but sometimes it's good just to be prodded to write something...win or lose...
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Caroline Gill said...

I enjoyed this, Rachel: it made me smile!

Rachel Fox said...

Thanks C, glad you liked it.
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