Shoes

Shoes


My shoes are piled up by the door

and scattered out across the floor.

I can't find any shoes to wear

'cause they're mixed up everywhere!

There's one boot beside the bed

but the other's someplace else instead.

                                                                    -Joy S. Barefoot

Readin', Writin' and Rockin'

The play was feel good and happy

children each playing a part

marching in to their places;

all practiced, and ready to start.

Kasey was at the piano,

fantasy music to play.

The practicing choir got rowdy

with voices babbling away.

A day in the life of a schoolhouse,

a day in the life of a child.

It was readin', writin' and rockin'

the little red schoolhouse was wild.

finally, finale . . . finished;

time to go home and to bed

while readin', writin' and rockin'

is still going 'round in his head!

-Joy S. Barefoot

Marshmallow Roast

A great big fire

leaping all about.

I run around;

yell and shout

I'm everywhere;

I'm helping out.

I stab marshmallows

on twigs and sticks;

when they cool

I bite and lick

to get that marshmallow

off that stick!

-Joy S. Barefoot

Hungry Halloween Fire

bonfire

in the night

tongues of fire

burning bright

blazing tongues

to slurp the night

bonfire

burning bright

-Joy S. Barefoot

The Pot and the Kettle

The pot began

to criticize

the kettle,

saying

"You

are just as black

as you can be!"

The kettle

dropped her bale*

to peer

above it

and said,

"Any day,

you're twice

as black as me!"

  
-Joy S. Barefoot

*The metal handle on an old iron pot

Falling Leaves--

Gather leaves

from the trees

Press them flat

like a mat

Tape them down

all around

Search and look

in a book

Write their names,

none the same

Know each one

before you're done.

-Joy S. Barefoot

The Chair’s Dilemma

The chair got tired of being sat on

by fat and boney people.

He told the woodman building chairs,

“I’d rather be a steeple.”

The woodman observed the waiting chair

and said, “If I make you a steeple,

then you’ll be getting your bell rung

by fat and boney people!”

-Joy S. Barefoot

Victoria’s Butterfly

Soft Mr. Butterfly,

come here and flutterby

me.

Velvet wings mystify;

sit here and rest on my

knee.

-Joy S. Barefoot

Owl of the Night

Owl In the Night

Two big eyes
one big hoot
scary old owl
makes me scoot.

Two big eyes
on a swivel head
up in the oak tree
fills me with dread.

 

Swoosh of wings;

piercing bright eyes;

off I run

with frightened cries!

                   

 -Joy S. Barefoot