Rainbow alphabet doggerel (Y,Z)

Y is for Yesterday

'Another year gone,'
The old yak yawned
As he combed his shaggy hair

He was not as young
As he used to be,
But he still had his hairy flair

He still had his horns
And enough teeth left
To chew the yellow hay

And as long as a yak
Has his memories,
He's as young as yesterday.

____

____

Z is for Zebra,

The zany, zoophobic zebra
Played a zither with great zeal.
He wore a striped, zippered zephyr
Much too tight for him I feel.

____

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Text © Mirino (PW) images © Juliette, Madison & Mathias. October, 2009
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W and X

A and B

Rainbow alphabet doggerel (W,X)

W is for Wish

"I grant you three wishes,"
The wizard declared,
"Think wisely and note
That a wish can't be shared."

"I wish for peace for all people,
Their happiness and good health,
Then three more wishes,
Just for myself."

___



X is for Xenophobe

Alex was an xenophobe
Who never went abroad.
He was born in Sutton Coal Field
And so was his wife Maud.

Alex had an xylophone
A Xmas gift from Nell.
He never took it anywhere,
Which perhaps was just as well.

___

Text © Mirino (PW) images © Mathias & Eddie. October, 2009
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Y and Z

U and V

Rainbow alphabet doggerel (U,V)

U is for Unicorn

I once saw a unicorn
Quite unexpectedly.
It stood upon a mountain side
Under a eucalyptus tree.

Unable to contain myself
I uttered words of joy,
Aware of the enchantment
That I was once more a little boy.

The unicorn looked at me
And seemed to understand.
The dream was unforgettable,
A utopian wonderland.

___



V is for Vision

The vulgar vulture
Was very vain
Until he viewed
His reflection
In a puddle of rain.

"What a vile vision",
He vociferated,
Then vexed by the verity,
Flew off exasperated.

___

Text & image © Mirino (PW) image © Eva. September, 2009
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W and X

S and T

Rainbow alphabet doggerel (S,T)

S is for Simple

Sailor Simon went to sea
In a ship with a single sail.
When a salty storm shook the ship
The sail was slit by the gale.

So when all seemed lost
And the squall shrieked on
He was seized by a shylock squid,
'If I take you to shore and save your soul,
It would only cost you a quid.'

(When sailor Simon went to sea
He only took sixpence
He surmised that if he offered that
The squid would take offence)

So as the ship sunk slowly
The squid squeezed out some ink,
'Just sign upon the dotted line,
Or else you're sure to sink.'

So sailor Simon's soul was saved
And so should suit his story
But since he's sadly still in debt
Such seems to shame his glory.
___

Sailor Simon went to sea
In a ship with a single sale
As he sailed the seas in search of the squid
His ship shook from the shock of a whale.

'I'm so sorry,' Simon said,
'I didn't see you there.'
The whale simply softly sighed
Then said he didn't care.

'Another scar upon my side
Seems no surprise to me,
But tell me Sir, why sail a ship
So blindly upon the sea?'

'I'm searching for the shylock squid
Who threatens me to sue.
I still owe him six shillings,
A sum sadly overdue.'

With a smart squirt from his spout
The whale spoke then slowly sank,
'I saw the squid on Saturday,
Stranded on a bank.'

'He hid his savings in the sand
And missed the final tide.
It seems that since from sunstroke
The shylock squid has died.'

So sailor Simon's soul was saved
And so were his six shillings,
For tides may serve as nature's way
Of settling final billings.

___


T is for Time

The toad shed a tear
As he sat on his stool
Thinking of old times
When he once went to school.

Such a tiny tadpole
Would much rather play
Than tediously try
To learn lessons each day.

'There's always tomorrow,'
The small tadpole thought,
'Always tons of time
For me to be taught.'

The toad blinked and sighed
Twitching his old toes.
One lesson he'd learnt
Was how quickly time goes.

___

Text & image © Mirino (PW) image © Chiara. September, 2009
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U and V

Q and R

Rainbow alphabet doggerel (Q,R)

Q is for Queen

The queen was in a quandary
And as querulous as can be.
She was locked up in her bedroom
And no one could find the key.

The knave climbed up a ladder
To the queen's balcony,
But so quarrelsome she quibbled
That he quivered fearfully.

The king was playing croquet
Enjoying the quiescent calm.
The key was in his pocket
And he, quite without a qualm.

___





R is for Rat

The rat ran into the restaurant
And caused a bit of a fuss.
He was chased round the room
By the cook with a broom
Then ran out and got hit by a bus.

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Text & images © Mirino (PW) August, 2009
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S and T

O and P

Rainbow alphabet doggerel (O,P)

O is for Ogre

Orid, the ogre
Was a villainous rogue
Who ate owls and oxen
And pies made with toad.

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P is for Pig

The polyglot pelican
Spoke to the pig
Who wore pink pants
As he danced a jig.

'Your pants have the hue
Of a plump, ripe peach
And you proudly prance.
It's beyond all speech.'

(The pelican's pouch
Was so full of fish
That his pronunciation
Was not as he would wish)

But it mattered not
A purple plum
For the prancing pig
Was both deaf and dumb.

___

Text & images © Mirino (PW) August, 2009
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Q and R

M and N

Rainbow alphabet doggerel (M,N)

M is for Moon

"I have made a mistake,"
Said the man in the moon,
"For the sun is still shining,
I've arisen too soon

But then I am mad
So it's best I eclipse,
I shall go down to Margate
And buy fish and chips".
___

On Monday Mr. Murgles
Sold some melons to my mummy.
This may have caused the gurgles
That meander in my tummy.

____


N is for Noah

Noah was a naval man
Who made a naval ark
And filled it full of animals
From Nairobi's National Park

There were elephants and buffalos
And even kangaroos,
Giraffes as well as zebras
And naturally gnus

There were anteaters and ostriches,
Two of every kind.
Only nasty nurgles and wild knackersnaps
Were those Noah left behind.

(This extra last verse is reserved for adults,
especially those who still believe in Darwin's theory)

Noah knew a shapely girl
And vowed to save her life,
So by the time it started raining
He had also left his wife.

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Text & images © Mirino (PW) August, 2009
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O and P

K and L

Rainbow

In the same way that rainbows often give way to clear skies, children close their school books to enjoy their summer holidays.
So 'let's leave the last letter and lessons at least' until early August and join the Harvest mouse, Nicholas, to bask and play in the sunshine.

Happy holidays!

___





Swinging on a wheat stalk
Swaying in the breeze,
With braces and catapult
To shoot at bumblebees.

No school for Nicholas
For harvest time is here.
Fare and fun for everyone,
Pop-corn and gingerbeer.

___

© Mirino (PW) July, 2009
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K and L

Rainbow alphabet doggerel (K,L)

K is for Kite

If a king can eat a kipper
And a queen can kiss a knight,
Then a knave can kick a kettle
And a kid can fly a kite.

___


L is for Laugh

"I like to laugh",
Lord Lovelock lisped,
"And leapfrog
On the lawn,
Learn Latin whilst
I lie in bed
At least from dusk
To dawn

If lingering long
In lonely lanes

To me is quite
Delightful,
For others such
Leisures in life
Might likely look
Quite frightful."

___


Lecture

If you don't listen you won't learn
If you're dishonest you will lie
If you're late you will be last
If you're sad then you might cry.
But if you're joyful you will laugh
And if you look then you will see
And if you do everything with love
Then always happy you will be.

___

Text & image © Mirino (PW) image © Binta. July, 2009
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M and N

I and J

Rainbow alphabet doggerel (I,J)

I is for Immodest

Inside, outside
Up and down,
The inane King
Can't find his gown.
His courtesans
Have no right to frown
Because he wears
His royal crown.

___


J is for Jump

Jack was a judicious man
And just the job as a judge,
Although he joked and jumped
About at each trial,
His wig never seemed to budge.
___

Mother made a jelly,
Jimmy jumped for joy.
Mother, jolted
Dropped the jelly.
Jimmy is a clumsy boy.



Text & images © Mirino (PW) image © Binta. June, 2009
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K and L

G and H

Rainbow alphabet doggerel (G,H)

G is for Ghost

I once played host
To a ghastly ghost
And offered him some tea.
With a gruesome voice
He refused my choice
Preferring eau-de-vie.

___


H is for Heavy

Hoggish Harris
Had heaps of pasta
On his holidays
In Rome
And became
So huge and heavy
He had a hard time
Getting home.

___

Text & image © Mirino (PW) image © Claire. June, 2009
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I and J

E and F

Rainbow alphabet doggerel (E,F)

E is for Empty

Empty, full
Early, late
Easy, hard
Love or hate

East or West
Beginning, end
Odds or evens
Break or mend

Ever, never
Dislike, enjoy
Enter, exit
Girl or boy

Expand, retract
Enemy, friend
Ease, discomfort
Earn or spend

___

F is for Find

Fat, thin
Future, past
Front, back
First or last

True or false
Foolish, wise
Fact or fiction
Fall or rise

Lost, found
Friend or foe
Succeed or fail
Fast or slow

Strong or frail
Tied or free
Without its opposite
Can it be?

___


There is always
A way to find out
If there is any doubt
Of what one wants
To know about
___

Text © Mirino (PW) image © Lisa. June, 2009
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G and H

C and D

Rainbow alphabet doggerel (C,D)

C is for Cucumber

The crazy cook would prepare
His favourite dish with great care-
Curried crab with cold custard,
Crumble cake with Colman's Mustard,
Chocolate and cheese with cod
And sliced cucumber (which seems odd)
All clumped together with clammy rice,
The taste of which he claims is nice.

___

D is for Do

The little riddle of example

If I do
What you do
And he does
The same

Then they do
What we do
Who first is
To blame?

___

Text © Mirino (PW) image © Lisa. June, 2009
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E and F

A and B

Mirino's Rainbow alphabet doggerel

Alphabet poems written for young French children to widen their vocabulary and help them with their English pronunciation. Young Italians might also be interested to use them to practice their English, provided their English teacher is with them to listen and correct them when necessary.

(Click on the above titles to go to the next two letters, or use the links below)

A is for Anagram

An Anagram
Could be
A Ganaram.
It might even be
A Nagaram.
But if it isn't
A Magaram
Then it can only be
A Ragaman.

___


B is for Bagpipes

Mc Tavish blew his bagpipes
As his kilt flapped in the wind
Standing nobly on the hillside,
Bonnier sight ye ne'er would find.

Both his blue knees they did tremble
With emotion and with cold,
But he tunelessly kept playing
Being deaf as well as bold.

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'Bonnier sight ye ne'er' would find: 'A more beautiful sight you would never find'. (Scottish dialect)
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Text & image © Mirino (PW) June, 2009

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C and D