Magpie, magpie, voice so sweet

Today, I thought I would do something lighthearted for a change – a poem in the style of a nursery rhyme. 🙂

This poem actually has a background story. LOL. It is about a frustrated gardener who wonders where the fish in the water lily pot have gone – a humorous plea from a gardener to a nonchalant oriental magpie robin perched at the rim of the water lily pot.

The oriental magpie robin is one of my favourite garden birds, a performer dressed in a black and white tuxedo, singing its signature song every day.

Photo taken at Floria 2014: Visit Malaysia 2014 – Malaysia Truly Asia display (June 2014).

Magpie, magpie, voice so sweet

Magpie, magpie, voice so sweet
What are you doing, innocent as can be
Magpie, magpie, chirp, tweet, tweet
A cool drink delighting, bathing happily

Magpie, magpie, voice so sweet
Plump as a partridge, fattened for a feast
Magpie, magpie, chirp, tweet, tweet
Did you see, tiny fish eaten by a beast?

Magpie, magpie, voice so sweet
At the water lily pot, innocent as can be
Magpie, magpie, chirp, tweet, tweet
Please do return my fish to me

An original poem by
Khor Hui Min
5 February 2015

The Jungle Chant

I don’t write a lot of chants, but today I’d like to share one of favourites, written in 2012 for children. 🙂

The Jungle Chant

Deep in the jungle,
Animals run free,
Caring for nature,
Live in harmony.

You and I, you and I,
Together, together,
Chant the jungle beat,
Together, together,
Chant the jungle beat.

Deep in the jungle,
Animals live free,
At peace with nature,
No wars and no greed.

You and I, you and I,
Together, together,
Chant the jungle beat,
Together, together,
Chant the jungle beat.

 

An original chant by
Khor Hui Min
2012

 

Published in:
Lim E.S., Lee P.L & Khor H.M. (2014). KSSR English Year 4 (Sekolah Kebangsaan). Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka. p.143.

(ISBN: 978-983-46-1295-5)