Little Girls

September 28, 2016May 23, 2018 / sophierharrington / 3 Comments

Little girls, little girls,
Made from all things nice, we’re told.
Emotions often uncontrolled.
Pink and sparkly,
Often arty.

Sugar and spice,
Girls cost a price,
Meek and mild,
A well-behaved schoolchild.

Fairy tales and dress up,
Make believe and make up,
Ponytails and polkadots
Plays mummies with a dolly cot.

Maybe they are, maybe they’re not.
But if this all you see
Then you’re missing a lot.

Little girls, little girls,
Confident and courageous,
Determination that’s contagious,
If self-belief is encouraged
You will always see them flourish.

Tender heart but robust
Someone you can always trust.
Logic when the world’s absurd.
Her sense of justice undeterred.

Intelligent, a top tree climber
Don’t ever let the world define her,
She can do it on her own,
With vision and grace to be shown.

Little Boys

September 28, 2016May 23, 2018 / sophierharrington / 4 Comments

Little boys, little boys,
Made from frogs and snails, we’re told.
Big and bold,
Holes in socks,
Thrower of great big rocks.

Puppy dogs’ tails,
Fighting tooth and nail,
Puddle jumpers,
Sibling thumpers.

Dirty knees from dragon slaying,
Often disobeying.
Stoic, solid, made of stone.
Bedroom door with skull and crossbones.

Maybe they are, maybe they’re not.
But if this all you see
Then you’re missing a lot.

Little boys, little boys,
Sentimental, hearts of gold,
A more sensitive soul you won’t behold,
Kind and loving,
Needs hugging.

Cheeky and charming,
A smile that’s disarming,
Fragile, frightened,
A mind that loves to be enlightened.

Loyal, gentle, loves to cook
Snuggles with a storybook,
Compassionate and illogical,
Bravado rarely optional.

Back to School

September 5, 2016February 12, 2017 / sophierharrington / 7 Comments

Shiny shoes, snack box,
Water bottles, black socks.
Name labels, PE kit,
Let’s try to remember it.

Alarm set, early night,
Avoid the usual sibling fight.
Toilet visits, one more kiss,
Does every child do this?

Next morning, not a peep,
It’s like they’re catching up on sleep.
Wake them up, make them eat,
While you find the luncheon meat.

Cheese will do, let’s get dressed,
One of them will protest.
Brush your teeth, I’ll plait your hair,
Being this organised is rare.

Grab your book bag, pencil case,
Pose for a photo by the fireplace.
Let’s go now and avoid the scramble,
We’ll actually catch the first day preamble.

You’ve lost a brand new shoe?
And you need a poo?
Well, I suppose this is nothing new.

Out the door, in the car,
But, of course, we don’t get far.
PE kit and recorder,
Left behind in our disorder.

Arrive at school, a little late,
Remember to be a good classmate.
Try your best, always be kind,
And I’ll go to work to unwind.

Visit here to read more of my poems

Birth of a Naturalist

May 24, 2016May 1, 2018 / sophierharrington / 1 Comment

No amount of scrubbing

Will clean these grubby nails.

These small hands keep scrabbling

At rocks, all kinds of shale.

Tiny digits seeking out

Any kind of critter.

Lifting up the stones to scout

Before they reconsider.

They scatter as light invades

Their community disturbed.

Futile efforts to barricade

Are nearly always curbed.

He deftly scoops the woodlice

As they start to flee.

Tweezer fingers so precise

When he wants them to be.

If he could handle a pencil

With such dexterity

There wouldn’t be the immense hill

He seeks for scholastic clarity.

If this could be his classroom

How happy he would be.

We count the flowers in bloom

And use chalk rocks for literacy.

Your gentle love of nature

And wonder at the earth

Makes you my personal teacher

And reminds me of all it’s worth.

So let’s explore the garden,

And play amongst the leaves,

Because as you grow, you’ll harden

To all a five-year-old perceives.

Try Sophie Harrington poems for parents? – Read Slow Down or Little Boys or Little Girls

Ode to an ill child

April 14, 2016September 6, 2016 / sophierharrington / Leave a comment

The fever started and my reason parted

I always fear the worst.

Likely just a virus, that would be desirous

But my mind imagines something absurd.

I check you for rashes and temperature flashes

And ask if the light hurts your eyes.

I sleep on your floor even though it’s a chore

I want to be here when you wake.

You’ll understand, when you hold a little hand

The love that I feel for you.

I’ll be your defender, I’ll never surrender,

I brought you into this world.

I will sleep near while you still want me here

Because one day this job will be done.

I hope when you’re older and I’m up to your shoulder

You’ll still let me be your mum.

I want to advise you and let no-one disguise you.

Always be true to yourself.

So get well soon and be immune

To whatever it is that you’ve caught.

We’ll go and play and enjoy every day

Because life is too precious to waste.

Tidy Up Time

November 12, 2015September 6, 2016 / sophierharrington / Leave a comment

DAY ONE
The living room floor
Is covered in toys galore
I must tidy up this mess.
Impress.

DAY TWO
Don’t clear away Mum,
We’re having fun
We’ll put it away later.
Procrastinator.

DAY THREE
Grandparents will be here soon
Why are your toys still strewn?
I suppose they’re family.
Practicality.

DAY FOUR
I’m starting to ignore
Then suddenly abhor
The state the house is in.
Chagrin.

DAY FIVE
Please pick it up
I’m sick to the gut
Or I am doing it now.
Disavow.

DAY SIX
I’ve stubbed my toe
No more saying no
We’ll tidy this together.
Countermeasure.

LATER DAY SIX
I love my floor
I won the war
And now they’ve gone to bed.
Glass of red.

More Sophie Harrington poetry: Never Forget or Slow Down

Never Forget

November 10, 2015September 6, 2016 / sophierharrington / Leave a comment

Your soft cheek on mine is divine.
The baby scent still there. Musty and sweet.
I breathe it in as I kiss your doughy cheek.
I must never forget.

Your little eager hand squeezes into my palm.
The inquiring fingers small and squashy.
You pull on my clothes to be lifted.
“Mummy, up. Mummy, cuggle.”
I must never forget.

I can make everything better.
Bump or falls cured with a rub and magic kiss.
“Better!” you exclaim.
Beaming, you slide back to the ground and patter off to play.
I must never forget.

You’re waking less at night.
I am grateful but there is a pang of sadness,
I know it means you’re growing up.
Our nighttime cuddles will end.
Always remember that I will be here for you. Forever.
I hope you never forget.