A poetic interlude from Grandma

Found in my poetry anthology, handwritten long ago; hope you enjoy

I like old clothes,
Hand-me-down clothes,
Worn outgrown clothes,
Not-my-own clothes.
When somebody grows
And gives me her clothes
I don't say, "What, those?"
And turn up my nose
The way some people do
When their clothes aren't new.

I like old clothes
I really do.
Clothes with a history
Clothes with a mystery,
Sweaters and shirts
That are brother-and-sistery,
Clothes that belonged to a friend of a friend
Who wore them to school when she lived in East Bend.
"You lived in East Bend once, Blue Sweater", I say.
"Just think you are living in my town today."

I like old clothes,
Faded-out clothes,
Not-so-new clothes,
Where-were-you clothes;
And each time I wear them
I try to imagine
The places they've been
And the faces they've seen
And whose clothes they'll be
When they're finished with me. Mary Ann Hoberman

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Cricket magazine poetry contest for schools

Things I Like
I like the wind on my face
when I run fast
and the smell of the bakery
as I go past.

I like playing Scrabble
with my Dad
And when I beat him
I am glad.

I like cakes and candles
and birthday wishes.
And sometimes I even
like doing the dishes.

I like the way Mom smiles
on report card days.
I really worked hard
for those A's.

I like to visit my Grandmamas
who live far away.
I wish I could see them
every day.

I like paper kites
and anything blue.
And guess what, Cricket,
I LOVE YOU. James Hamilton (8)

I Like Things
I like onion rings
and other things,
like silver, gold,
red and pink,
icy water to drink,
stuffed animals
and roller skating,
the Nutcracker Suite
and never waiting,
sledding down hills,
Dad pulling me, too,
swimming,
and not wearing shoes. Lori Cooperman (6)

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Limericks
I can pack for a trip with great speed,
For I know in advance what I need:
It isn't clean socks
Or toothpaste or clocks -
It's an armful of new books to read. Eve Merriam

Little Jane who'd read all about bears
Went to see them asleep in their lairs;
This was a mistake:
They were all wide awake,
And dancing the tango in pairs. Edward Gorey

Going home with her books through the snows,
Went Maude, when a blizzard arose.
Despite winter's blast,
Maude got home at last ,
But the books had no jackets and froze. Wallace Tripp