Child Whispers

The children of nowadays are different in many of their likes and dislikes, from the children of ten years ago. This change of attitude is noticeable as much in the world of children’s poetry as it is in other things.
In my experience of teaching I have found the children delight in two distinct types of verses. These are the humorous type and the imaginative poetical type—but the humour must be from the child’s point of view and not from the “grown-up’s”—a very different thing. And the imagination in the second type of poem must be clear and whimsical, otherwise the appeal fails and the child does not respond.
As I found a lack of suitable poems of the types I wanted, I began to write them myself for the children under my supervision, taking, in many cases, the ideas, humorous or whimsical, of the children themselves, as the theme of the poems. Finding them to be successful, I continued, until the suggestion was made to me that many children, other than those in my own school, might enjoy hearing and learning the poems. Accordingly this collection of verses is put forward in the hope that it will be a source of sincere enjoyment to the little people of the world.
ENID BLYTON.
In the garden very early Rosamunda’s walking, And to her surprise she hears Lots of fairies talking.
She looks around but cannot see Where they can be hiding; Not on any butterfly Nor bee, are they a-riding.
She goes to where the tulips grow And finds a sight of wonder, For out pop fairy elves and say, “Good-morning, Rosamunda!”
Once I found a fairy In my cup of tea. She was nearly drowned And wet as wet could be.
I picked her out and dried her And asked her if she’d stay; “Oh, no,” she said, “ I mustn’t ,” And off she flew away.
My dollies are so naughty, I’m afraid they’ve gone on strike; They won’t let me undress them, But just do what they like.
They say they want a penny To spend on Saturday, And ’less I let them have it, They’ll not join in my play.