Read Out Loud

Read these poems out loud. Click a title to read one.
Or click here to read them all.

How to ‘get’ a poem

You can read a poem to yourself
and hear it in your head.
What’s different if you then decide
to read out loud instead?

Try it! Go on – you try it!
It’s a really great, good way
to give the words another chance
to mean what they must say.

To feel the poem’s rhythm,
the beating of its very heart,
go inside and let it lead you
through its story from the start.

And when you’re done, you decide
which way you think sounds better.
Inside your head or shout it out?
You are a poetry go-getter!

Hummingbird Rest

Hummingbird, hummingbird, come visit me!
Hummingbird, hummingbird, come down from the tree!
I’m right here by the feeder that’s red.
It’s filled with sweet water so you can be fed.
Just whir on in and take a long drink.
That’s it! Now, what must you think
as you little-mouse squeak before each dip
of your black needle beak that takes the sip?

Hummingbird, hummingbird, come visit me!
Hummingbird, hummingbird, what do you see?
You hover not more than a small hand away
and look straight at me as if to say:
“So you feed me and watch me, well that’s okay,
but don’t expect more, don’t expect me to stay.”
Then you buzz to a branch and land for a rest.
Stay as long as you like. You’re my favorite guest!

JC Sulzenko

Name Game Skipping Song

Marta, Marta, do you like your name?
Marta, Marta, will you play our game?
If you could change your name, what would it be?
Shamira? Shamira? With syllables three!

Jasmine, Jasmine, do you like your name?
Jasmine, Jasmine, will you play our game?
If you could change your name, what would it be?
George? Georgie? For a boy or girl! Really!

Michel, Michel, do you like your name?
Michel, Michel, will you play our game?
If you could change your name, what would it be?
Yuri? Yuri? Let’s climb that giant tree!

Benji, Benji, do you like your name?
Benji, Benji, will you play our game?
If you could change your name, what would it be?
Just Ben. Just Ben. That’s simple and easy.

Alexa, Alexa, do you like your name?
Alexa, Alexa, will you play our game?
If you could change your name, what would it be?
You like your name? That end’s the game for me.

JC Sulzenko

A Parrot

Oh to be a parrot!
Sure there’s a brain in your head,
but you only need to use it
when words must be said.
With feathers bright and colourful
and beak so sharp and strong,
wouldn’t it be wonderful
if you could sing a song?

From Fat poems Tall poems Long poems Small

JC Sulzenko

Penguins

Looks like there’s one
Oops! There’s another
Oh my –
the whole ice field’s full

In tuxedos – like going to
Some fancy dress ball

Or perhaps these penguins play
in an orchestra and
we cannot recognize
their symphony

From Fat poems Tall poems Long poems Small

JC Sulzenko