Close Close Previous Poem Next Poem Follow Us on Twitter! Poem of the Day Award Follow Us on Facebook! Follow Us on Twitter! Follow Us on Pinterest! Follow Our Youtube Channel! Follow Our RSS Feed! envelope star quill

Poems For Kids

Table of Contents

  1. To a Tree by Annette Wynne
  2. A Boy's Song by James Hogg
  3. The Wind by Christina Rossetti
  4. Bird of the Sky by Annette Wynne
  5. "I'll Try" by Anonymous
  6. The Echoing Green by William Blake
  7. The Shepherd by William Blake
  8. The Lamb by William Blake
  9. My Shadow by Robert Louis Stevenson
  10. Were I the Sun by Anonymous
  11. The Tree Stands Very Straight and Still by Annette Wynne
  12. A Butterfly Talks by Annette Wynne
  13. A Good Boy by Robert Louis Stevenson
  14. The Children's King by Anonymous
  15. In School by Annette Wynne
  16. "I'll Stretch It a Little" by Anonymous
  17. Ten True Friends by Anonymous
  18. At the Water by Elizabeth Madox Roberts
  19. The Happy Little Clock by Annette Wynne
  20. A Wish Is Quite a Tiny Thing by Annette Wynne
  21. Sky and Tree and Hill and All by Annette Wynne
  22. Song of the Snowflakes by Annette Wynne
  23. Pictures Are Windows by Annette Wynne
  24. Postmen by Annette Wynne
  25. Treasure Things by Annette Wynne
  26. The Snow-Storm by Annie M. Cooper
  27. My Kingdom by Louisa May Alcott

  1. To a Tree

    by Annette Wynne

    Beautiful tree, feet in the ground,
    Are you, like me, fast to earth bound?

    Beautiful tree, stretching so high,
    Seek you, like me, God in the sky?

  2. A Boy's Song

    by James Hogg

    Where the pools are bright and deep,
    Where the gray trout lies asleep,
    Up the river and o'er the lea,
    That's the way for Billy and me.

    Where the blackbird sings the latest,
    Where the hawthorn blooms the sweetest,
    Where the nestlings chirp and flee,
    That's the way for Billy and me.

    Where the mowers mow the cleanest,
    Where the hay lies thick and greenest,
    There to trace the homeward bee,
    That's the way for Billy and me.

    Where the hazel bank is steepest,
    Where the shadow falls the deepest,
    Where the clustering nuts fall free.
    That's the way for Billy and me.

    Why the boys should drive away,
    Little sweet maidens from the play,
    Or love to banter and fight so well,
    That's the thing I never could tell.

    But this I know, I love to play,
    Through the meadow, among the hay;
    Up the water and o'er the lea,
    That's the way for Billy and me.

  3. Who Has Seen the Wind?

    by Christina Rossetti

    Who has seen the wind?
    Neither I nor you;
    But when the leaves hang trembling,
    The wind is passing through.

    Who has seen the wind?
    Neither you nor I;
    But when the trees bow down their heads,
    The wind is passing by.

  4. Bird of the Sky

    by Annette Wynne

    Bird of the sky,
    How does it feel to dart and fly,
    How does it feel to soar all day
    "Over the hills and far away"?

    To live in a tree,
    To build a house as fine as can be,
    To build it safe, and warm, and high,
    And call it home—bird of the sky?

    To perch and sing,
    Up there where the leaves are quivering,
    Singing and winging and building high,
    How does it feel—bird of the sky?

  5. "I'll Try"

    by Anonymous

    "The others will laugh," said the Bugbear,
    "And ridicule you on the sly."
    "Never mind," said Jenny Endeavor,
    "I'll try."

    "You'll surely break down." said the Bugbear;
    "You know you are terribly shy."
    "Never mind," said Billy Endeavor,
    "I'll try."

    "It's really too hard," said the Bugbear;
    "You might as well venture to fly."
    "Never mind," said Susie Endeavor,
    "I'll try."

    "Just put the thing off," said the Bugbear.
    "And others the lack will supply."
    "I'll not," answered Tommy Endeavor,
    "I'll try."

  6. The Echoing Green

    by William Blake

    The Sun does arise,
    And make happy the skies;
    The merry bells ring
    To welcome the Spring;
    The skylark and thrush,
    The birds of the bush,
    Sing louder around
    To the bells’ cheerful sound,
    While our sports shall be seen
    On the Echoing Green.

    Old John, with white hair,
    Does laugh away care,
    Sitting under the oak,
    Among the old folk.
    They laugh at our play,
    And soon they all say:
    ‘Such, such were the joys
    When we all, girls & boys,
    In our youth time were seen
    On the echoing green.’

    Till the little ones, weary,
    No more can be merry;
    The sun does descend,
    And our sports have an end.
    Round the laps of their mothers
    Many sisters and brothers,
    Like birds in their nest,
    Are ready for rest,
    And sport no more seen
    On the darkening Green.

  7. The Shepherd

    by William Blake

    How sweet is the Shepherd’s sweet lot!
    From the morn to the evening he strays;
    He shall follow his sheep all the day,
    And his tongue shall be filled with praise.

    For he hears the lamb's innocent call,
    And he hears the ewe's tender reply;
    He is watchful while they are in peace,
    For they know when their Shepherd is nigh.

  8. The Lamb

    by William Blake

    Little Lamb, who made thee?
    Dost thou know who made thee?
    Gave thee life & bid thee feed
    By the stream & o’er the mead;
    Gave thee clothing of delight,
    Softest clothing, wooly, bright;
    Gave thee such a tender voice,
    Making all the vales rejoice?
    Little Lamb, who made thee?
    Dost thou know who made thee?

    Little Lamb, I’ll tell thee,
    Little Lamb, I’ll tell thee:
    He is callèd by thy name,
    For he calls himself a Lamb.
    He is meek, & he is mild;
    He became a little child.
    I a child, & thou a lamb,
    We are callèd by his name.
    Little Lamb, God bless thee!
    Little Lamb, God bless thee!

  9. My Shadow

    by Robert Louis Stevenson

    I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me,
    And what can be the use of him is more than I can see.
    He is very, very like me from the heels up to the head;
    And I see him jump before me, when I jump into my bed.

    The funniest thing about him is the way he likes to grow--
    Not at all like proper children, which is always very slow;
    For he sometimes shoots up taller like an india-rubber ball,
    And he sometimes gets so little that there's none of him at all.

    He hasn't got a notion of how children ought to play,
    And can only make a fool of me in every sort of way.
    He stays so close beside me, he's a coward, you can see;
    I'd think shame to stick to nursie as that shadow sticks to me!

    One morning, very early, before the sun was up,
    I rose and found the shining dew on every buttercup;
    But my lazy little shadow, like an arrant sleepy-head,
    Had stayed at home behind me and was fast asleep in bed.

  10. Were I the Sun

    by Amos Russel Wells

    I'd always shine on holidays
    Were I the sun;
    On sleepy heads I'd never gaze,
    But focus all my morning rays
    On busy folks of hustling ways,
    Were I the sun.

    I would not melt a sledding snow,
    Were I the sun;
    Nor spoil the ice where skaters go,
    Nor help those useless weeds to grow,
    But hurry melons on you know,
    Were I the sun.

    I'd warm the swimming pool just right,
    Were I the sun;
    On school-days I would hide my light.
    The Fourth I'd always give you bright,
    Nor set so soon on Christmas night,
    Were I the sun.

    I would not heed such paltry toys,
    Were I the sun—
    Such work as grown up men employs;
    But I would favor solid joys—
    In short I'd run the world for boys,
    Were I the sun!

  11. The Tree Stands Very Straight and Still

    by Annette Wynne

    The tree stands very straight and still
    All night long far on the hill;
    But if I go and listen near
    A million little sounds I hear,
    The leaves are little whispering elves
    Talking, playing by themselves,
    Playing softly altogether
    In the warm or windy weather,
    Talking softly to the sky
    Or any bird that dartles by,
    O little elves within the tree,
    Is there no word to tell to me?

  12. A Butterfly Talks

    by Annette Wynne

    A butterfly talks to each flower
    And stops to eat and drink,
    And I have seen one lighting
    In a quiet spot to think;
    For there are many things he sees that puzzle him, indeed,
    And I believe he thinks as well as some who write and read.

  13. A Good Boy

    by Robert Louis Stevenson

    I woke before the morning, I was happy all the day,
    I never said an ugly word, but smiled and stuck to play.

    And now at last the sun is going down behind the wood,
    And I am very happy, for I know that I've been good.

    My bed is waiting cool and fresh, with linen smooth and fair,
    And I must be off to sleepsin-by, and not forget my prayer.

    I know that, till to-morrow I shall see the sun arise,
    No ugly dream shall fright my mind, no ugly sight my eyes.

    But slumber hold me tightly till I waken in the dawn,
    And hear the thrushes singing in the lilacs round the lawn.

  14. The Children's King

    by Anonymous

    There once was a merry old monarch
    Who ruled in a frolicsome way.
    He cut up high Jinks with the children,
    And played with them all through the day.

    "A king always gets into trouble
    When trying to govern," he said.
    "So nothing but marbles and leap-frog
    And tennis shall hother my head."

    Ah, well! The wise people deposed him.
    "You may govern the children," said they.
    "Why, that is exactly what suits me,"
    He replied, and went on with his play.

    But it wasn't a year till the people
    All wanted the king back again;
    They had learned that a ruler of children
    Makes a pretty good ruler of men.

  15. In School

    by Annette Wynne

    In school, children sit in rows,
    Just the way the green corn grows,
    They should be glad they needn't stay
    In rows as corn does night and day.
    For it is fun to play and shout
    And run quite far when school is out.

  16. "I'll Stretch It a Little"

    by Anonymous

    The wintry blast was fierce and cold,
    And the lassie's coat was thin and old.
    Her little brother by her side
    Shivered and pitifully cried.
    "Come underneath my coat," said she,
    "And see how snug and warm you'll be."
    The brother answered, nothing loth,
    "But is it big enough for both?"
    "Yes," said the girl, with cheery wit;
    "I'll stretch it out a little bit."

    Ah, brothers, sisters, where the mind
    Is bent upon an action kind,
    What though the means are sparely spun,
    And hardly seem to serve for one?
    Stretch them with love, and straightway you
    Will find them amply wide for two!

  17. Ten True Friends

    by Anonymous

    Ten true friends you have,
    Who, five in a row,
    Upon each side of you
    Go where you go.

    Suppose you are sleepy,
    They help you to bed;
    Suppose you are hungry,
    They see that you are fed.

    They wake up your dolly
    And put on your clothes,
    And trundle her carriage
    Wherever she goes.

    And these ten tiny fellows,
    They serve you with ease;
    And they ask nothing from you,
    But work hard to please.

    Now, with ten willing servants
    So trusty and true,
    Pray who would be lazy
    Or idle—would you?

  18. At the Water

    by Elizabeth Madox Roberts

    I liked to go to the branch today;
    I liked to play with the wiggletails there.
    And five little smells and one big smell
    Were going round in the air.

    One was the water, a little cold smell,
    And one was mud and that was more,
    And one was the smell of cool wet moss,
    And one was some fennel up on the shore.

    And the one big smell came out of the mint,
    And one was something I couldn't tell.
    And the five little ones and the big one
    All went together very well.

  19. The Happy Little Clock

    by Annette Wynne

    In my garret room, I'm never quite alone,
    I have a small companion all my own,
    A cunning round-faced merry little elf,
    My little China clock upon the shelf.
    It's tick, tick, ticking all the day,
    How I love its cheery steady little way,
    It keeps my garret room
    Free from sprites of fear and gloom,
    The happy little clock upon the shelf.

    It calls me every morning to my work,
    In rain or shine it never tries to shirk;
    The cozy little, honest little elf,
    The busy little clock upon the shelf;
    O it's tick, tick, ticking day and night,
    It ticks its "honest best" with all its might;
    I shall never lack a friend
    When my daytime labors end
    With my little China clock upon the shelf.

  20. A Wish Is Quite a Tiny Thing

    by Annette Wynne

    A wish is quite a tiny thing
    Just like a bird upon the wing,
    It flies away all fancy free
    And lights upon a house or tree;
    It flies across the farthest air,
    And builds a safe nest anywhere.

  21. Sky and Tree and Hill and All

    by Annette Wynne

    Sky and tree and hill and all,
    I could touch you were I tall;
    But I shall not even try,
    Great big tree and hill and sky;
    I shall stay down here, and see
    All the little things like me,
    And let all the big things be,
    Till I grow up wise and tall,
    Sky and tree and hill and all.

  22. Song of the Snowflakes

    by Annette Wynne

    We're very small, we're very small,
    But we can cover the world and all;
    We'll drop one by one in the middle of the night,
    And when you awake in the morning light,
    You'll find not a stick or a stone in sight.

    We're very small, we're very small.
    You'll never hear us as we fall;
    We'll cover the church, and we'll cover the tree,
    And cover the people that come out to see
    What a white, white world the world can be!

  23. Pictures Are Windows

    by Annette Wynne

    Pictures are windows to many lands,
    But a book is a door that ready stands
    To him who will open and go outside,
    Where the rivers and plains are free and wide.
    Pictures are windows through which we look,
    But the door of the world is just a book!

  24. Postmen

    by Annette Wynne

    Some postmen sit inside all day,
    Giving lovely things away,
    Packages and bundles tied
    With the best of things inside,
    And letters, too, all clean and white
    They hand to you with great delight;
    They like to sit there all the day
    And give the pleasant things away.
    But other postmen walk outside
    Along the city far and wide;
    They take the bundles that they give
    And letters, too, out where you live;
    They do not mind the walk at all,
    They're pretty strong, and glad and tall;
    Such pleasant things some people do,
    They must be happy all day through.

  25. Treasure-Things

    by Annette Wynne

    Bits of tin and colored glass,
    Nails and knives and strings,
    Keep them in a treasure-box,
    For these are treasure-things;
    Wrap them up most neatly,
    Keep them hidden so,
    For what are really treasure-things
    Parents never know.

  26. The Snow-Storm

    by Anne M. Cooper

    It is fun to sit in the window-seat,
    When all outdoors is snow and sleet,
    For everywhere I look I see
    Things that aren't what they seem to be.

    The fence-posts, each with a cap of snow,
    Look like soldiers all in a row;
    While just over there, the kitchen pump
    Looks like a rabbit about to jump.

    Down by the gate, that tall white ghost
    Is really only the hitching post;
    While under the tree, that polar bear
    Is only our old rustic chair.

  27. My Kingdom

    by Louisa May Alcott

    A little kingdom I possess,
    Where thoughts and feelings dwell,
    And very hard I find the task
    Of governing it well;
    For passion tempts and troubles me,
    A wayward will misleads,
    And selfishness its shadow casts
    On all my words and deeds.

    How can I learn to rule myself,
    To be the child I should,
    Honest and brave, nor ever tire
    Of trying to be good?
    How can I keep a sunny soul
    To shine along life's way?
    How can I tune my little heart
    To sweetly sing all day?

    Dear Father, help me with the love
    That casteth out my fear;
    Teach me to lean on thee, and feel
    That thou art very near,
    That no temptation is unseen,
    No childish grief too small,
    Since thou, with patience infinite,
    Doth soothe and comfort all.

    I do not ask for any crown
    But that which all may win,
    Nor seek to conquer any world
    Except the one within.
    Be thou my guide until I find,
    Led by a tender hand,
    Thy happy kingdom in myself,
    And dare to take command.

Follow Us On: