908 Words

steveshorenow@gmail.com

Children’s books & poetry

There Are Other Things

By Steve Shore

there are other things

There are other things here,

In the dead of night.

Flashing so quick—

They’ll give you a fright!

There are things here—

I've seen them before!

I've seen them up high,

I've seen them down low.

I've seen them outside,

I've seen them on snow.

I see them in bed,

When I'm all alone.

I've seen them up close,

I've seen them from far.

Good luck catching one in a jar!

There are other things here

And quite by surprise,

They'll make you feel shy…

Like a giant mirror hanging down from the sky.

There are other things here—

I've seen them, I swear!

They're whispers in ears,

Goosebumps and tears,

And frowns that melt into smiles.

When your feet touch the ground,

Be careful of how!

For there are other things here.

Yes, there are other things here.

***

things in dark places

What things lurk in the darkest of places?

Places you dare not explore?

Places that send wiggly chills down your spine,

Places where strange things grow…

Some things do thrive inside of dark places,

Like moths in basements of schools.

Some things must brave the darkest of places,

Some need help getting through.

Things in dark places make scary faces,

Sending shivers through blankets and homes.

Some whisper,

Some howl,

Some hiss,

And some prowl.

Some dance,

Some prance,

Some wail out in trance.

Others just lay there and moan!

Things in dark places never leave traces

Of what they do under the moon.

Things in dark places are slimy or faceless,

Tiny or boney and huge!

Things in dark places have no use for laces,

Glasses or makeup or rules…

They are what they are,

Those things in dark places.

And they're doing just fine—

So shoo!

***

my quiet place

The phones were all buzzing,

The screens all were humming.

No one could hear the guitar man a-strummin’.

The noise grew so loud,

I started a-runnin’.

To my quiet place—

I made great haste.

Past the lights flashing,

Ducking through traffic.

Away from sounds blasting,

And into the magic.

No one can find me

In my quiet place.

No one else knows

My sacred space.

It’s peaceful and calm—

It’s where I belong.

And still when I’m gone,

It’s my quiet place.

***

about a strawberry
A strawberry grew,

That turned into two.

For months and months

Nobody ate them.

They sat there and stared

As the sun gleamed from where

It seemed they were trying to go.

Soon they grew hairs

And feeling like bears,

We ate them ‘till they were no more!

***

Honey is sweeter

No jam, jelly,

Toffee or gum drop;

Chocolate or blueberry

Pie--
No jujube, cupcake,

Ice cream or pudding;

Kettle corn or Turkish Delight.

Nothing is any sweeter than honey,

And deep down you know that I'm right.

Most kitchens keep honey locked up in cupboards,

Hidden and out of sight.

But I like it better than sugar or sweetener,

For nothing is sweeter

To smell!

Keep your cane sugar—

Raw, white, or brown.

For what could be sweeter than honey—

Do tell!

Honey is sweeter,

Oh so much sweeter,

And the buzzing bees all know it well.

***

have you heard the rain

Have you heard the rain snuggled up in bed?

Have you heard its crazed dance as it falls on your head?

Have you watched it light up the blackest of nights,

With bolts that fill young eyes with fear?

Have you danced in the rain,

Danced without shame,

Prancing about like a deer?

Have you held out a glass and watched it fill fast,

As gutters gush small waterfalls?

Have you heard it whip window panes,

Rooftops and lanes,

On roads where slugs and snails crawl?

Have you heard the rain stop,

Dead as the night,

And come back again in full flop?

Have you smelled rain on grass

As the sun shines through

Morning droplets of dew?

Have you ever seen bows left by the rain,

Like gift wrapped skies just renewed?

Have you ever heard it,

Listened for a moment

And said to the rain,

"Thanks, I love you!”

***

time can do anything

Time turns bad to good,

And good to bad.

Time can make a funny thing

So very sad.

Time can do anything.

Time hides possessions

You thought you once had.

Time is important

To people downtown.

For others not so much

This time around.

Time creates dreams

With limitless scenes.

Time makes old clothing

Burst at the seams.

Time is best spent

With family and friends.

It goes by so quick,

You'll forget where it went!

Time takes a chick

And makes it a hen.

Time takes a boy

And makes him a man.

Time comes in waves

Like on the ocean.

When you're not looking,

Time slips away.

Don't try to hold on--

Time will escape.

Time can do anything.

***

country sounds

Sounds of the countryside,

Songs of the mist.

Sounds of nighttime chirping,

Howling of the wind.

Sounds you remember,

With all you hold that’s dear.

Sounds that take you far away—

‘Til you’re not even here!

Sounds of the meadows,

Fluttering of wings.

Songs born of rainbows,

And dandelion seeds.

Sounds that make you giggle,

Sounds that make you shy.

Sounds that see and sights that feel,

Naked in the sky.

Sounds of the tallest grass,

And creaking of the trees.

Songs we sang of summers past,

On winter’s frozen peaks.

***