TICKLES COTTAGE

THE PLAYGROUND

The playground in the neighborhood

Is a place where you should go

Down among the animals

That strut around for show.

There's an ostrich on a bicycle

A chimp hanging from a swing

A flamingo poised on one thin leg

A goat that tries to sing.

There's a hippo dressed like a caribou

A lion that thinks he's a bear

A rhino, stout, who won't come out

Because he's lost his underwear.

There's a zebra there with one long stripe

A joey too lazy to jump

A cockatoo, bright yellow and blue,

Asleep on a camel's hump.

Oh! I do so love the playground

Though tomorrow I'll visit the zoo

Where people eat fruit and peanuts

And there I might see you!

A CLEVER SANTA

I wonder what's in, the neighbor's bin

Broken toys? A crooked wheel?

A coat in rags? Torn school bags?

A shoe with a missing heel?

I've seen a headless doll in there

And a pair of strapless shoes

A broken hose, a rubber nose

That even a clown couldn't use.

My mother said when times are hard

Of toys there are never enough

It's then that Santa goes through your bin

And fixes all of your stuff.

HOPPING THE PAVEMENT

Pavements are so playful

Twisting as they walk

Hopping left, then hopping right   

  Colored round the edges with chalk

I like my friend the pavement

Always ready to play

Twisting and twirling around me

On its merry way.